Day 090 - 16 Feb 95 - Page 39


     
     1   Q.   So, when there were bell drinkers there were problems with
     2        that?
     3        A.  Bell drinkers, there were occasionally problems;
     4        particularly if you had a spillage underneath them you
     5        would get a wet patch of environment/index.html">litter underneath, which caused a
     6        problem to the environment/index.html">litter.
     7
     8   Q.   That was a problem that you found at Sun Valley as well?
     9        A.  Yes, it occurred with all producers.
    10
    11   Q.   What problems resulted from the problems with the environment/index.html">litter?
    12        A.  Well, the problem if you have a spillage from a drinker
    13        and if it is of any significance at all, the environment/index.html">litter gets
    14        very wet underneath it and the only way that you can
    15        rectify that is to actually take out the wet patch of
    16        environment/index.html">litter and remove it using a wheel barrow.
    17
    18   Q.   Is that what always happens?
    19        A.  That was the standard practice depending on how wet the
    20        patch was; if it is only a minor spillage you could put dry
    21        shavings in and mop up the excess water; but if it was a
    22        major one the only effective way was to remove it.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can I just understand that?  So the problem
    25        was having to do more work of that kind, was it, rather
    26        than effecting the birds, or did you get more Hock Burn,
    27        and so on, with it?
    28        A.  Obviously, if you have a wet patch of environment/index.html">litter like that
    29        there is a greater likelihood that birds will walk on it
    30        and that the dampness will spread from that patch into the
    31        surrounding environment/index.html">litter; and therefore, as you say, create an
    32        environment which could cause more Hock Burn.
    33
    34   MS. STEEL:   So Hock Burn was more of a problem with the old
    35        type drinkers?
    36        A.  Yes, it was a problem from time to time if you had any
    37        significant drinker spillage.
    38
    39   Q.   Can I just ask you to look at a photograph?  (Handed).  Are
    40        they the bell drinkers that you have been talking about?
    41        A.  Yes, they are.
    42
    43   Q.   While you have got the photo, can you see, is there a
    44        partition in that broiler shed?
    45        A.  I cannot see a partition.
    46
    47   Q.   The photograph was taken in 1991 at a Sun Valley broiler
    48        shed?
    49        A.  Right.
    50 
    51   Q.   So, do you think it is possible that by 1991 you were -- 
    52        some of the broiler sheds were still having both sexes 
    53        mixed in together?
    54        A.  No, I think that was unlikely.  I think probably what
    55        it was was a house where we either had all cockerels or all
    56        pullets.  This will still happen from time to time
    57        depending on the numbers available.
    58
    59   Q.   With the water system, the bell water system, the birds
    60        would not always be able to get water, would they, the

Prev Next Index