Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 32
1 A. That is correct.
2
3 Q. What would you do if you found one of your stockmen kicking
4 or hitting one of your animals or anybody else's animal,
5 for that matter.
6 A. Unfortunately, when I was here on Friday, sir, I had a
7 phone call and when of our longest serving members of staff
8 was caught kicking a pig.
9
10 Q. Longest serving -- how long serving?
11 A. One of our longest, 28 years he has been with us, sir,
12 a lorry driver, and I would say that I am 99 per cent sure
13 that at 11 o'clock this morning he was sacked.
14
15 Q. Sacked?
16 A. Yes. I would just like to say that he was witnessed by
17 our vet in the factory who is a lady.
18
19 Q. And reported then by the vet; is that right?
20 A. Yes, that is correct.
21
22 Q. You told us earlier that in the slaughterhouse the pigs
23 have what you called a needle spray which is a kind of arc
24 of water which they like to play with. At what stage is
25 that at? I mean, is it all through or is it only at
26 certain stages or how does it work?
27 A. There again, the person who is in charge of our
28 lairage, he was a stockman on a farm, and he is the man who
29 is in charge and make the judgment to adjust and to give
30 them the necessary water that is necessary. But at all
31 times all of them will have water at a tepid temperature
32 for however long he thinks it is best for the animal.
33
34 Q. Apart from the fact they seem to enjoy playing with the
35 water, what benefits does the water confer on the pig?
36 A. It settles it down, and gets calmer, and also if you do
37 have pigs from other suppliers where they have mixed the
38 groups, it does help to quieten the aggression in them as
39 well.
40
41 Q. Does it have any benefits when you come to stun them?
42 A. In our stunning operation, yes, it makes them wet
43 there, but also (and this a point that Dr. Gregory actually
44 missed at our plant) we use water sprays just like the
45 shower in your shower, sir, to guide the pigs, to drive
46 them and by that time they are wet and that is an ideal
47 condition for stunning.
48
49 Q. So, in effect, then you can use the water spray in place of
50 what other people might use which might be a goad or a
51 stick?
52 A. That is correct, sir.
53
54 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Mr. Rampton, if you are going to go on -----
55
56 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, that is a perfect moment to stop.
57
58 (Short Adjournment)
59
60 MR. RAMPTON: Staying for the moment with stunning pigs or
