Day 101 - 10 Mar 95 - Page 53


     
     1
     2   Q.   Yes, I am putting it to you.
     3        A.  You are asking me if they do?
     4
     5   Q.   Transporting birds in lorries to slaughter causes animals
     6        suffering:  Yes or no?
     7        A.  Well, the percentage that arrived dead I assume have
     8        undergone some sort of suffering, yes.
     9
    10   Q.   Yes, and then there is another percentage, of course, that
    11        merely get broken bones or bruises?
    12        A.  There are a percentage of birds that get injured during
    13        either the catching or the transportation, yes.
    14
    15   Q.   So, for those birds the circumstances are cruel?
    16        A.  There is a degree of suffering.
    17
    18   Q.   Quite a high degree, is it not?  Is that an acceptable
    19        degree of suffering for a bird, so far as you are
    20        concerned?
    21        A.  Well, it is the best method available.  I think they
    22        employ the best possible practices available of getting the
    23        birds from the growing house to the slaughterhouse.  If you
    24        can suggest a better method, then -----
    25
    26   Q.   So, it is acceptable because it is inevitable in the
    27        business that you do?
    28        A.  Well, it is inevitable I would guess so, yes.  If you
    29        are going to be a meat eating -- if you are going to
    30        produce chicken for human consumption, then, yes.
    31
    32   Q.   If people said that, if I was to say to you -----
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Mr. Morris, can I ask you to contemplate
    35        something?  You have Dr. Gregory's evidence?
    36
    37   MR. MORRIS:  Yes.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have Dr. Pattison, who is coming back on
    40        Monday.  You are going to call evidence yourself.  You have
    41        established that, essentially, McDonald's rely upon Sun
    42        Valley with some checks, and McKey with some checks, but,
    43        essentially, on those suppliers to establish a system.  As
    44        night follows day, those who are prepared to rear and
    45        slaughter animals for human consumption must contemplate
    46        that some, at least, of those animals will suffer to some
    47        degree.  It is inherent in the process.  What more can you
    48        really usefully ask Mr. Kenny?
    49
    50   MR. MORRIS:  Mr. Kenny is the only witness, as far as I know, 
    51        from -- well, from UK McDonald's who has been put forward 
    52        as ---- 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is not an answer to the question.
    55        I stress the word "usefully".  You have got your
    56        opportunity to comment on the evidence of those who are
    57        more directly related as to what the circumstances are.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:  If I may make a comment?  I have had to listen
    60        patiently to weeks and weeks of evidence of McDonald's

Prev Next Index