Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 56
1
Q. "The defendants contend", it goes on, "that the conditions
2 in which chicken are reared and the killing methods are
cruel. In particular, broilers are factory farmed" -- I
3 do not ask you about that because it begs a number of
questions -- "which often means that they are deprived of
4 proper space and light."
5 Leaving aside any questions you may have about the use of
the word "proper", Dr. Gregory, were the chickens which
6 you saw at Sun Valley deprived of adequate space and
light?
7 A. One has to sets one's own criteria or one relies upon
the criteria of codes of practice.
8
Q. Use your criteria first.
9 A. The criteria I was going by when I examined these
units was to think of the Ministry of Agriculture
10 Fisheries and Food criteria, in particular, their codes of
practice, and that is really the basis of what was in my
11 report. To go into the debate about what is my criteria
might be a bit involved.
12
Q. I see. You might have qualifications about the standards
13 set?
A. It depends upon what target you are pitching it at.
14 You know, how much you want to compromise the industry and
go for animal welfare and vice versa.
15
MR. JUSTICE BELL: May I just ask, is that why when giving
16 especially some of your earlier answers in your evidence
you measured it against standards throughout the industry
17 as a whole?
A. I did.
18
Q. You did not use your own qualitative terms of good, bad,
19 high or low; you compared it with the industry as a whole?
A. Yes. The reason why I did that was partly because it
20 has to be an element of moral judgment rather than
scientific. I consider that I am here largely to provide
21 scientific judgment, and the scientific information, for
example, on space allowance for broilers, what is adequate
22 and what is inadequate, is not available. There has not
been adequate scientific research performed to establish
23 from the bird's point of view what is desirable.
24 MR. RAMPTON: It is very likely, Dr. Gregory, and I will not
seek to prevent it, his Lordship may or may not do so, I
25 know not, that the defendants will take up with you in
their cross-examination your moral or ethical position, if
26 you like. I am not going to do that because that is not
what I see as your function.
27
What I do want to ask you is this: It may be that in the
28 eyes of animal welfare people, idealists, at least, the
keeping and killing of animals for human consumption
29 cannot be justified in any circumstances. Are you
conscious of that point of view?
30 A. I am.
