Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 80


     
     1   Q.   They might, might they?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  When you said saliva, you said foaming at the
     5        mouth, you said, "I am told"?
     6        A.  Yes.
     7
     8   Q.   Have you ever seen that?
     9        A.  I have seen it, yes.
    10
    11   Q.   You have.
    12
    13   MR. RAMPTON:  What about the eyes?  Is there anything one can
    14        tell from looking at the eyes of the beast how it might be
    15        reacting to its surroundings?
    16        A.  Yes, like any animal, I think if you can see sort of
    17        the whites of a cow's eyes, then you would be able to say
    18        it that it was alarmed, but the same as any other animal.
    19
    20   Q.   But they roll their eyes up, do they, or down so that you
    21        can see the whites?
    22        A.  Yes.
    23
    24   Q.   Are there any particular stages in the process from arrival
    25        in the truck to stunning which you must be particularly
    26        alert to signs of distress in the animals?
    27        A.  Well, I suppose between unloading and slaughtering at
    28        every stage you have to be aware of it, particularly
    29        unloading.
    30
    31   Q.   What sort of size trucks do they come in?  I suppose it
    32        varies, so it is perhaps a silly question.
    33        A.  Yes, they do vary greatly from small trailers behind
    34        Landrovers to large articulated lorries.
    35
    36   Q.   If you had a large articulated lorry, would it have one
    37        floor or two?
    38        A.  Two.
    39
    40   Q.   So the cattle from the top floor have somehow got to be got
    41        down to a level on which they can get of the vehicle?
    42        A.  That is right, yes
    43
    44   Q.   How is that achieved?
    45        A.  By use of a ramp.
    46
    47   Q.   How do they cope with descending a ramp?
    48        A.  Sorry, how do they cope with it?
    49
    50   Q.   Yes, how do they cope with it?  Do cows seem to mind going 
    51        down a ramp or not? 
    52        A.  I do not think so. 
    53
    54   Q.   How steep is the ramp, or may it be?
    55        A.  (Indicating)  I honestly could not tell you what the
    56        degree.
    57
    58   Q.   Do they get off the ramp -- does it come right down to
    59        ground level?
    60        A.  Yes.

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