Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 16
1 use high currents, which are inevitable for producing a
cardiac arrest, it is associated with a higher prevalence
2 of quality problems in the carcass. I have seen the data
for that and the data looks to support their conclusion,
3 their database.
4 Q. So they are doing it for economic reasons?
A. Yes.
5
Q. You say you have seen the data. Is not this something you
6 have looked into yourself?
A. Yes, using different waveforms and frequencies than
7 the one used at Sun Valley.
8 Q. It is possible to ----
A. Our findings were that if you go up to and beyond --
9 sorry, if you start at 130 milliamps and go beyond that,
you get a significant increase in quality problems in the
10 carcass. Their observations, using a different frequency
and waveform, was that it was at lower currents you get an
11 increase in quality problems. Their observations were
based on a very large number of birds. Our observations
12 by comparison were fewer birds.
13 Q. But they could change the frequency of their current then
they could, maybe, use a stronger current as a result of
14 that without risking or without their worries about their
economic concerns?
15 A. I do not know that, whether that is the case. No, I
do not know the reason. I say I do not know because it
16 depends on what base line you are starting from. Where
I say it is beyond 130 milliamps you get an increase, even
17 at low current levels, you get quite a high prevalence of
carcass quality defects. They may be working with a
18 waveform which intrinsically reduces less damage anyway.
But we are talking about an increment in current which
19 causes more damage; that is what we are comparing.
20 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Your 130 was where the graph rises steeply,
as it were?
21 A. That is correct, for that particular waveform, but the
base line could be -- I will not be surprised, I think it
22 may well be higher than for their particular waveform.
That is why they were chosen in the first place.
23
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Can I put the RSPCA paper away?
24
MS. STEEL: Yes, you can.
25
MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, there is one point I would like to make
26 about this document we have been looking at. The RSPCA
assert in 1988 that cardiac arrest stunning, if I can put
27 it in this shorthand form, does not affect the quality of
the meat. They say in their recommendations that there is
28 ample scientific evidence to show that this procedure in
no way affects the quality of poultry meat produced. That
29 is in 1988. Dr. Gregory has given evidence to the
contrary. Indeed, it does affect the quality of the
30 meat. If the defendants are to dispute what Dr. Gregory
has said, then they must make that clear so he can deal
