Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 68


     
     1   Q.   You do not remember then, even though you felt strongly
     2        about this you do not remember how many of your suppliers
     3        were ----
     4        A.  If knowingly people had got tethers we would not deal
     5        with them.  If at times there were pigs that come into our
     6        plant through a third party we were not aware that the
     7        tethers were being used, that I cannot comment on.
     8
     9   Q.   But you were aware of some using tethers?
    10        A.  Nationally, yes.
    11
    12   Q.   No, some of your suppliers?
    13        A.  No.
    14
    15   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Not in the last 10 years?
    16        A.  No.
    17
    18   MS. STEEL:  Did you have any specifications prohibiting your
    19        suppliers from using tethers?
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   You did?
    23        A.  Yes.
    24
    25   Q.   How long have those specifications been in existence?
    26        A.  I would say in the last five or six years.
    27
    28   Q.   So prior to that some of your suppliers could have been
    29        using tethers?
    30        A.  No, because we have inspections of our farms that our
    31        buyers have to go around and inspect the farms.
    32
    33   Q.   Ten years ago they were doing that as well?
    34        A.  Yes, they were.
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What about the small percentage, as you put
    37        it, which used and indeed still use the dry sow stalls?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   What is your personal opinion of them?
    41        A.  Of the sow stalls?
    42
    43   Q.   Yes.
    44        A.  I shall welcome it, sir, when they are banned totally
    45        in this country.
    46
    47   Q.   You are against the use of them?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   Q.   Why, Mr. Bowes? 
    51        A.  For exactly as has been pointed out, the restriction on 
    52        the sow, because I personally think it is not a good method 
    53        of animal production for an animal to be shut in the stall
    54        for all that time or tied to a tether.
    55
    56   Q.   But express it to me in terms you feel comfortable with.
    57        Mr. Rampton has said he does not like using the word
    58        "unhappy" in relation to animals, but you use a word which
    59         -- you obviously think it is ----
    60        A.  It is not comfortable.

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