Day 067 - 15 Dec 94 - Page 21


     
     1        A.  That is a fairly general statement when it compares to
     2        the normal broiler.  You can go around the world, you can
     3        go around the US and find that differences within the same
     4        species, within the same breed of chickens.  You can go
     5        into a farm and find broilers that are twice the size of
     6        their peers, that are twice the size of their brothers and
     7        sisters.
     8
     9        We have developed a better breed of chickens because they
    10        are grown under a controlled environment where they are
    11        taken care of, where appropriate nutrition is given, where
    12        they have access to water consistently, where the
    13        environment is controlled, where the diseases are
    14        controlled.  It is for that reason that those breeds that
    15        are specifically designed or selected to grow under those
    16        conditions develop a higher weight.
    17
    18   Q.   Does it actually have any benefit for the chicken to grow
    19        to twice the size that it would normally be?
    20        A.  It is, yes.
    21
    22   Q.   It has benefits?
    23        A.  It is a benefit because it is a healthier animal, and
    24        the weight will tell you -- the weight is a significant
    25        factor that will tell you the health of the animal, a sick
    26        animal, an animal that is under stress, will not gain
    27        weight, will not reproduce.  That is a common -- that is
    28        nature.  That is Mother Nature.  That is the way it works.
    29
    30   Q.   Is that really true?
    31        A.  Yes, it is true.  You can just go to a hospital and
    32        look at people who are sick; you can go and look at any
    33        animal who is sick and it will lose weight.
    34
    35   Q.   So people who get overweight only get overweight if they
    36        are healthy; is that right?
    37
    38   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, hold on a moment because you have to
    39        distinguish between fat and muscle.  If you are going to
    40        draw that analogy, you had better ask how much of
    41        Mr. McDonald is healthy flesh and how much is fat and so
    42        on.  If you are suggesting that Mr. McDonald is the
    43        equivalent of someone who is obese, then put that.
    44
    45   MS. STEEL:  No, I am not.  I am trying challenge the assumption
    46        that animals will not put on weight unless they are healthy
    47        and happy.  That is all.
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  Direct it at that rather than the human
    50        race because that might be rather more useful in this 
    51        context. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL (To the witness):  You are asserting that in nature
    54        animals (and I presume humans are included because humans
    55        are animals) will not put on weight if they are not healthy
    56        and happy; is that what you are asserting?
    57        A.  What I am saying that, in general, if you make a
    58        comparison and take twins, and if one of those twins is
    59        subjected to stress, is subjected to diseases, that twin
    60        will weigh less than his twin brother or sister.  That is a

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