Day 095 - 02 Mar 95 - Page 16


     
     1
     2   MS. STEEL:  Perhaps that could be left until the lunch-time.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, very well.
     5
     6   THE WITNESS:  Yes I have it.
     7
     8   MS. STEEL (To the witness):  It says:  "The American Veterinary
     9        Medical Association shared the United Poultry Incorporated
    10        concern about humane slaughter of poultry and believed that
    11        electrical stunning prior to slaughter is appropriate for
    12        broilers".  It then goes to on to say:  "However, spent
    13        foul, culled laying hens frequently suffer broken bones
    14        when electrically stunned and their economic value makes it
    15        difficult to justify costly new slaughter techniques".
    16        Would you accept that spent battery chickens are not
    17        stunned prior to slaughter in the USA?
    18        A.  I do not know, to be honest.  When I read this letter
    19        that is one of the things that I get out of this trial.  If
    20        that is happening, I do not know.  We buy eggs.  We do not
    21         -- we sell the spent house.  I do not know what happens to
    22        them after that.  It is an area that I am going to
    23        investigate that I would like to be familiar with, with
    24        that part.  There needs to be further research, yes.
    25
    26        What I do not agree is the part you have to keep in mind
    27        that the equipment can be modified, the voltage.  There are
    28        a lot of variables that you can do to improve that.  It is
    29        not a matter of economical -- what it says here that it is
    30        because of the equipment cost too much, you cannot, "it is
    31        difficult to justify costly new slaughter technique", that
    32        is not true.  That is an incorrect statement.  You can
    33        adjust the equipment -----
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Please stop there.  If you want to get back
    36        to the States before Easter you have to keep your questions
    37        as short as possible.  I know there is a temptation to do
    38        yourself justice by giving a full answer but do your best
    39        to keep them short.
    40        A.  I will, my Lord.
    41
    42   MS. STEEL:  The American Veterinary Medical Association is a
    43        respected organisation, is it?
    44        A.  It is a very well respected organisation, yes.
    45
    46   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I did have that letter.  I have read it.  It
    47        is not at the back of that particular bundle.  If there is
    48        a spare copy, I will put it in in due course.  I remember
    49        perfectly well what it says.  AVMA in this country is the
    50        Association for the Victims of Medical Accidents which is 
    51        why I remembered the letter. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL (To the witness):  Have you heard of the Farm Animals
    54        Concern Trust?
    55        A.  No.
    56
    57   Q.   You have not heard of them?  OK.  I am afraid there is
    58        another paper chase again.  If you could get down the
    59        Defendants' documents No. 114 of the original list.  It
    60        will be in the blue ones on the top row, 114.

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