Day 090 - 16 Feb 95 - Page 12


     
     1   Q.   But they did not tell you what they were doing with that
     2        information other than just looking through it?
     3        A.  No, I mean, the information is given in good faith to
     4        any customer who requires that information.
     5
     6   Q.   What they asked for was, what, pretty standard?
     7        A.  That is correct, yes.
     8
     9   Q.   You went over to America, did you not, to see the operation
    10        there?
    11        A.  I was not personally involved in the setting up of the
    12        McDonald's supply.  Although I have visited America many
    13        times, I was not involved in that visit specifically to
    14        look at the new processing methods.
    15
    16   Q.   Did they make any suggestions with regard to the type of
    17        bird that you use?
    18        A.  The only suggestions were that we should obviously use
    19        a bird which is produced that has a good meat yield and the
    20        ones that we used in the UK, the Ross and Cobb, are
    21        recognised worldwide as being the most efficient birds in
    22        this respect.
    23
    24   Q.   So you were already doing what they suggested?
    25        A.  We were already using those, yes.
    26
    27   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Has Sun Valley always been part of Cargill?
    28        A.  No, Sun Valley was taken over by Cargill in 1981.
    29        Prior to that it was a UK owned organisation which was
    30        originally built up as a farmers' co-operative.
    31
    32   MS. STEEL:  Do you also supply turkey to McDonald's?
    33        A.  No, we do not.
    34
    35   Q.   Just going to the hatchery, the eggs that do not hatch out
    36        at Sun Valley Poultry are put through a macerator?
    37        A.  That is correct.
    38
    39   Q.   That can include chickens that might still be alive in the
    40        eggs?
    41        A.  That is possible, yes.
    42
    43   Q.   Because they did not hatch within the allotted time given
    44        for -----
    45        A.  There may be a small number in that category, yes.
    46
    47   Q.   You mentioned a condition called splay leg?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   Q.   Have you seen that at Sun Valley Poultry? 
    51        A.  I have occasionally where it is caused by chicks being 
    52        kept in hatcher baskets for too long and it is a fault that 
    53        is very, very quickly rectified.  The chicks get splayed
    54        legs simply because they are slipping and sliding on the
    55        base of the hatcher tray.
    56
    57   Q.   So how often does that occur then?
    58        A.  Very, very infrequently.  I cannot say how often.  It
    59        is quite a rare condition now because it is something that
    60        is well recognised by hatchery managers and can be easily

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