Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 68


     
     1   MR. RAMPTON:  Maybe Ms. Steel, my Lord, can define what she
              means by "cruel", then maybe she and the witness might
     2        have a sensible discussion about it.
 
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You use the word "humane".  Is that a word
              you are comfortable with?
     4        A.  Right, yes.  Could she re-ask the question in that
              respect?
     5
         MS. STEEL:   Do you consider it to be humane to kill an animal
     6        without stunning it first?
              A.  It depends on the circumstance.  If I was doing -----
     7
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Shall we keep it to -- are you on the
     8        chickens at the moment?  You can ask the general question,
              if you want, but if you are on chickens, then do you want
     9        to stick to chickens for the moment?
 
    10   MS. STEEL:   If I stick to chickens with this question, I might
              have to ask it again twice over.  It might be better
    11        to  -----
              A.  You are not asking the question in relation to
    12        religious slaughter, are you?
 
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, maybe you are, but I am anxious not to
              embark on religious slaughter unless ------
    14        A.  Because the question does have implications in that
              area obviously.
    15
         Q.   I do not think that is what you are being asked.  Are
    16        there any circumstances in which, apart from religious
              slaughter, you consider it humane?
    17        A.  Yes.  There are circumstances where I consider it to
              be more humane to go to the trouble of trying to find the
    18        stunning apparatus in order to dispatch an animal rapidly
              if it is suffering, by cutting its neck or pulling its
    19        head off, or doing a method which does not involve
              stunning.  There are situations.  There is euthanasia.
    20
         MS. STEEL:   But in a standard killing line?
    21        A.  In a standard killing line the intention should be to
              stun the animal first, instantaneously, to not cause undue
    22        stress or pain in the application of the stunning method
              or equipment, and to make sure they do not regain
    23        consciousness.  That is what is required.  That is what
              should be performed.
    24
         Q.   Unless the animal is in grevious pain already, you think
    25        that if that is not done that is inhumane?
              A.  Yes, provided it is carried out according to those 
    26        requirements, because if people are misapplying the 
              stunning system, then it could be argued that it would be 
    27        more humane just to cut its neck, but that refers to
              misapplication or abuse of the animal.
    28
         Q.   What do you mean by that then, misapplication?
    29        A.  There are situations where an animal may be unduly
              distressed.  It may experience discomfort.  It may even
    30        experience electric shocks.  It may experience pain in the
              application of the stunning device.

Prev Next Index