Day 098 - 07 Mar 95 - Page 46
1 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is part of the structure, as I understand
2 it?
3 A. Well, it is almost like a step coming out from the end
4 wall of the stunning box.
5
6 MS. STEEL: Is this something that is tacked on to the end of
7 what the previous box was or has the whole stunning box
8 changed?
9 A. No, it has been built inside it. I think it is
10 actually made of concrete, if my memory serves me
11 correctly, and it is, kind of, it is like a step that has
12 been rounded off and it has a smooth covering over it.
13
14 Q. So when the cow comes in, it cannot put its head down, it
15 has to put its head up because there is a step in the way?
16 A. Well, the idea of it is that the chin will remain
17 higher.
18
19 Q. Prior to becoming the Quality Assurance Manager, what were
20 your responsibilities?
21 A. Mainly running the laboratory.
22
23 Q. So it was the kind of microbiological side of things that
24 you were involved with really?
25 A. That and the quality control side and all the other
26 different things we test for, yes.
27
28 Q. You mean the fat content and things like that?
29 A. Etc., yes.
30
31 Q. So really, prior to becoming the Quality Assurance Manager,
32 you would not really have had much to do with the kind of
33 slaughter side of the operation?
34 A. Yes, that is right.
35
36 Q. You said yesterday that you were trying to get away from
37 unloading down ramps?
38 A. Yes.
39
40 Q. Why is that?
41 A. I believe it is better for the animals.
42
43 Q. What, they are not keen on walking down ramps?
44 A. Not keen on walking down them -- we just believe it is
45 better to have them unloaded horizontally.
46
47 Q. Why would that be better for the animals?
48 A. I think the animals would prefer to walk horizontally
49 than down a slope.
50
51 Q. Is it not right that cattle are not very keen on walking
52 down slopes?
53 A. It is a difficult to question to answer.
54
55 Q. You also said about curved races lessen the need for
56 droving?
57 A. Certain schools of thought, yes, believe that is the
58 case, and if you have bends the cows will walk around them.
59
60 Q. So you are less likely to get cows stopping in their tracks
