Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 54


     
     1        about that.
     2
     3        I may say also that I did apply through you to be able to
     4        go and see the practices that are used in this country by
     5        suppliers of McDonald's and that request was refused.
     6
     7        In the case of Hong Kong, I see that they use a method of
     8        stunning in which, we would call that puntilla cut, where
     9        the animal is struck in the spinal cord behind the neck.
    10        It is a method that is used in Latin American countries
    11        quite a lot.  That would be quite unacceptable in this
    12        country.
    13
    14   MR. MORRIS:  Because?
    15        A.  Because it is regarded as non-instantaneous, causes the
    16        animal a good deal of pain, a great deal of pain, and it is
    17        abhorrent to the RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association,
    18        and there is no-one in this country, I think, would
    19        recommend that.
    20
    21        The cut is also used in Malaysia I see, and also in several
    22        of these countries -- I am just going through fairly
    23        quickly -- methods of Halal slaughter are used which would
    24        probably be unacceptable to animal welfarists and to the
    25        Farm Animal Welfare Council in this country.
    26
    27   Q.   Because?
    28        A.  Because of the cruelty involved in not having a prior
    29        attempt at stunning.  I think, my Lord, I have given a
    30        survey.  I have not dealt with everything.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I understand.
    33
    34   MR. MORRIS:  If we just have another couple of minutes?  We may
    35        be finished now.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Let us have the five-minute break and you can
    38        take stock.
    39
    40                          (Short Adjournment)
    41
    42   MR. MORRIS:  The noise in a slaughterhouse, I think we have
    43        touched on this, does that have an effect on the animal?
    44        I am sure we have been over this.  I am just asking to make
    45        sure.
    46        A.  Yes.
    47
    48   Q.   Can you just sum up the effect of noise in a slaughterhouse
    49        on a cow or on a pig when it is about to be slaughtered or
    50        leading into that? 
    51        A.  Noise makes such animals more excited and irritable, if 
    52        you like, so they are more difficult to handle.  They are 
    53        not at east; they are not at peace.  The more they resist
    54        the worse it gets.  So injuries, accidents are more likely
    55        to occur, strong use, strong force is more likely to be
    56        used with all the consequences.
    57
    58   Q.   Does the noise in itself have an effect on the animal apart
    59        from making it irritable?
    60        A.  That is the effect I would say of exciting it in one

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