Day 098 - 07 Mar 95 - Page 52


     
     1
     2   MR. MORRIS:  You said that pithing which was stopped two years
     3        ago was used to disrupt the brain, and so help prevent
     4        kicking and also helped with imperfect stuns.  Has the
     5        number of imperfect stuns increased or decreased, as far as
     6        you know?
     7        A.  I do not know.  In my experience, the incidence of
     8        imperfect stuns is very, very low.
     9
    10   Q.   But one would be one too many if you were the cow being
    11        stunned?
    12        A.  One too many for the company as well.
    13
    14   Q.   You said after the cattle are held in the lairage for more
    15        than 12 hours they then get a meal -- they would not get a
    16        meal before 12 hours?
    17        A.  If the cattle are staying on site overnight, they are
    18        in a lairage which has bedding, water and feed facilities,
    19        yes.
    20
    21   Q.   So if they are held overnight, that would generally go over
    22        the 12 hours mark and then they would get some food?
    23
    24   MR. RAMPTON:  No, that is not what he said.
    25
    26   MR. MORRIS:  I am asking a question.  If cattle are held
    27        overnight ---
    28        A.  Yes.
    29
    30   Q.   -- what time are we talking about?  Are we talking about 12
    31        hours then?  That would be the average stay, would it?
    32        A.  It would seem, yes.
    33
    34   Q.   Something like?
    35        A.  It would seem about right, yes.  I mean, obviously it
    36        would vary if cattle arrive in the early hours of the
    37        morning.
    38
    39   Q.   Unless they arrive pretty late the evening before, it is
    40        likely to be more than 12 hours, is it not?  What time do
    41        you start actual slaughtering?  You say you open at 6.30?
    42        A.  Seven, quarter to seven.
    43
    44   Q.   So unless they have arrived after 7.00 the previous evening
    45         ---?
    46        A.  Yes, be there longer than 12 hours.
    47
    48   Q.   -- the ones who are not slaughtered on the day they arrive
    49        are going to be in your lairages for more than 12 hours?
    50        A.  Yes, that is reasonable, yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   I do not suppose that is unusual, is it? 
    53        A.  It is not unusual, no.
    54
    55   MR. MORRIS:  So, when does the slaughter stop?  You said it was
    56        seven-and-a-half hours; is that correct?
    57        A.  Yes, that is the basic day.  I mean, sometimes it
    58        carries on.
    59
    60   Q.   Would it stop somewhere round about 2.00 or 3.00 in the

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