Day 092 - 27 Feb 95 - Page 56
1 Q. But in this case is it not that the humans are the
2 predators, in fact, the companies are the predators? You
3 are the predator, are you not, in this situation?
4
5 MR. RAMPTON: I will sit here listening to speeches in the
6 speeches. This is argy-bargy.
7
8 MR. JUSTICE BELL: This is a comment you are going to make in
9 due course, is it not?
10
11 MS. STEEL: I think that there has been plenty of comment from
12 the Plaintiffs as well, from Mr. Rampton as well.
13
14 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You concentrate on cross-examining as to the
15 facts. You can ask him: Do you think it is cruel? If he
16 says "yes" or "no", you can suggest to me later that is not
17 a realistic answer, if you want. But there has to be a
18 limit to the extent one can argue with the witness.
19
20 MS. STEEL (To the witness): So about 250 birds die from leg
21 problems on your figures. What percentage actually suffer
22 from leg problems but are not culled?
23 A. Oh, if they have leg problems they will be culled.
24
25 Q. Only if they get to a certain severity, surely?
26 A. A certain -- yes.
27
28 Q. But you do not know at what level they would start culling?
29 A. I do not know what you mean by that.
30
31 Q. There is a gait scoring system in this country. Is that
32 something that is used in the USA?
33 A. It is not used by our suppliers, no.
34
35 Q. It is not?
36 A. No.
37
38 Q. So, do they basically cull them when they cannot move?
39 A. No, way before that.
40
41 Q. At what point would they cull them?
42 A. When they see a problem with their legs, they
43 immediately cull them.
44
45 Q. What is the stocking density for the chickens in the USA?
46 A. It will vary. In fact, probably a range will be
47 better. Probably it will range from 30 to 36, 37.
48
49 Q. Kilograms per metre square?
50 A. Kilograms per square metre. That is at the end when
51 they have the -----
52
53 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, it is the maximum?
54 A. Yes, the maximum.
55
56 Q. You do actually use metres in the States now, do you?
57 A. Yes and no. The USA has been trying to change but the
58 change has been hard going through.
59
60 Q. Anyway you are familiar with metres, are you?
