Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 55


     
     1   Q.   Is it correct that the speed of the production line has
     2        increased over the last 10, 15 years?
     3        A.  I do not know for sure but it probably has, yes.  It is
     4        better equipment nowadays.  There is a lot more automated
     5        equipment.
     6
     7   Q.   Is it fairly standard for floors to be covered in blood and
     8        off-cuts of meat and faeces?
     9        A.  No.
    10
    11   Q.   What about any of those things?
    12        A.  No, it is not common.  Can you find it once in a while
    13         -- yes, you can find it.  But to say that they are
    14        covered, absolutely not.  Is it common -- no.
    15
    16   Q.   What about patchy, then, there are patches of blood and
    17        off-cuts and faeces on the floor, that would not be
    18        unusual?
    19        A.  That would be unusual.  The only part where you can
    20        find some blood is during the evisceration, sorry, during
    21        the bleeding part, there you will see some blood.  Once you
    22        take the blood out of the animal that is it.
    23
    24   Q.   What about when the degutting is done, the degutting is
    25        done?
    26        A.  No.  By that time the animal is bled you will see a
    27        little bit of blood, a few drops that are still there, but
    28        the animal, once it is stopped, the heart stops pumping,
    29        you are not going to get a lot more blood out of it.
    30
    31   Q.   On the actual individual lines, would it be fairly standard
    32        for carcasses to move, pass around about one every 12
    33        seconds?
    34        A.  Yes.
    35
    36   Q.   Have you ever seen hydraulic fluid leaking from machines
    37        and dripping on the meat?
    38        A.  No, I have not.
    39
    40   Q.   Are you aware of that happening in any of the other plants
    41        that you have not visited?
    42        A.  I have not seen it.  No.
    43
    44   Q.   Have you ever seen a problem with flying cockroaches?
    45        A.  No.
    46
    47   Q.   Were you aware of any problem to the Montfort plant that
    48        you have not visited, of them having a problem with flying
    49        cockroaches they have not been able to control for a number
    50        of years? 
    51        A.  No, I have not. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Would it concern you if that was the case?
    54        A.  Yes, it would concern me. I do not know to what extent
    55        the problem is.  You investigate for insects that are even
    56        outside of the premises of the facilities.
    57
    58   Q.   If the flying cockroaches were landing on the meat, would
    59        that be something that would cause you to terminate that
    60        company as a supplier?

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