Day 288 - 28 Oct 96 - Page 36


     
     1        stocking density was not reduced, he said that there were
     2        many reasons, including behaviour, mortality, economics,
     3        and he said that they all came into the factor or
     4        considerations.  We then went through them one by one and
     5        he admitted that mortality rates would not change or would
     6        not get worse if the stocking density was reduced, that
     7        behaviour would not measurably change.
     8
     9        And so I then put to him:  We have been through mortality
    10        and we have been through behaviour and they do not appear
    11        to be reasons why the stocking level should not be reduced
    12        so that only leaves economics.  To which he replied:  Yes.
    13        And then this is where the quote came from that I have just
    14        referred to a minute ago.  I then asked:  So that is the
    15        real reason why the stocking density is not reduced.  And
    16        he answered:  Economics are a very important factor, of
    17        course.
    18
    19        I then asked him -- he had referred to the Brazilian
    20        stocking density of eight birds per square meter and I
    21        asked him why Sun Valley did not introduce that as a
    22        stocking density.  And he said:  Because it would be
    23        totally uneconomic given the design of houses that we have
    24        and totally unrealistic in economic terms.
    25
    26        So the company is here clearly putting on the line that it
    27        is putting its profits before welfare considerations of the
    28        birds, and we have heard absolutely no evidence that
    29        McDonald's have indicated that they are unhappy with that
    30        or that they think that -- or that they disagree and have
    31        made demands that the birds should get more space.
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Totally uneconomic given the design of the
    34        houses.
    35
    36   MS. STEEL:   That we have and totally unrealistic in economic
    37        terms.  That is day 90, page 26, line 3.  The quote about
    38        "economics are a very important factor, of course" is day
    39        90, page 25, line 59.
    40
    41        On day 90, page 27, line 45, I asked Dr. Patteson:  Have
    42        McDonald's asked you to change the stocking density, to
    43        reduce the stocking density.  And Dr. Patteson said:  No,
    44        they have not.  I then asked:  They have not, so they are
    45        quite happy with the stocking density as it is now.  He
    46        said:  Yes.
    47
    48        Moving on to lighting, on day 89, page 32, line 7, Dr.
    49        Patteson said that Sun Valley normally run their sheds at a
    50        lighting level between 10 and 20 lux with 20 to 30 minutes 
    51        of darkness in any 24 hour period.  I have two references 
    52        for that.  One is 89, 32, 52, and the other is 90, 33, 19. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Yes.
    55
    56   MS. STEEL:   And Dr. Patteson said that the 75 to 80 lux
    57        measured by Dr. Gregory would be unlikely.  I am not sure
    58        if I have got the entire reference here.  I have just got
    59        32, 17.  I think I may have lost a number off there.
    60        (Pause)

Prev Next Index