Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 69
1 the pigs may not be instantaneously be stunned, may not,
but it was not established my any test. In order to
2 establish that I have given the details in the same
paragraph of what test would be required.
3
I will quote: "With a neck application there is a risk
4 that the current will immobilise the pig through its
effect on the spinal cord without rendering it
5 instantaneously insensible. Under the circumstances, it
was not possible to determine whether this was more than a
6 risk. To test this, one would have to ask the slaughter
man to stun the pig briefly, for example, for less than
7 one second, in the neck position without repositioning the
tongs to the eye/ear position, and then assess the
8 proportion of pigs that were immediately stunned from
their physical behaviour".
9
So one would have to do almost an experiment to establish
10 whether the neck application was or was not causing an
instantaneous stun.
11
Q. But, based on the knowledge that has been undertaken in --
12 based on your scientific knowledge, would you expect that
practice to cause some amount of pain?
13 A. I would have expected, based on our experience, that a
proportion of pigs would not be instantaneously stunned;
14 they would get current through the neck instead.
15 Q. That would cause them pain or it could cause them pain?
A. It could do.
16
Q. It would certainly cause them distress?
17 A. That is likely.
18 Q. The equipment that is used for stunning pigs, does that
not have to say what current is going through it? There
19 does not have to be a metre on it or anything?
A. We would have to refer there to the codes of practice
20 for any recommendation. There certainly is not a legal
requirement, a regulation that is, for a minimum current
21 display, no.
22 Q. But is it something that you think would be advisable so
that slaughterhouses can keep a check on whether they are
23 using an adequate current or not?
A. I think it is to be commended, yes. It would be very
24 advisable.
25 Q. Because it is right, is it not, that if the current is too
low, there is a serious danger that not all the animals
26 are going to be stunned and, at the worst, an animal will
get an electric shock and not be unconscious at all, and
27 that could be very distressing to the animal?
A. That is correct.
28
Q. Then again you go on to say that the equipment in
29 paragraph 4 was leaking and that could increase the risk
of electric shock for the pig?
30 A. Yes.
