Day 104 - 15 Mar 95 - Page 60
1
2 Q. In that report. You did not qualify that with "depending
3 on how well run the shed is", so do you accept that that is
4 the maximum recommended stocking density and the shed -----
5
6 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have to say I think on that topic we have
7 had quite a lot of questions and answers.
8
9 MR. MORRIS: If Mr. Rampton stops me ----.
10
11 MR. RAMPTON: I am very, very anxious about this repetition. We
12 have been round and round the same houses practically all
13 afternoon.
14
15 MR. MORRIS: I have hardly asked any questions of Mr. Pattison
16 I am trying to clear up all the questions I have to ask.
17
18 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You carry on.
19
20 MR. MORRIS: I was pointing out -----
21
22 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Doing your best, as I accept you are, but on
23 that point I do think -----
24
25 MR. MORRIS: I just wanted to show that it was actually in his
26 recommendations and not qualified by what he had said in
27 court and to give him a chance to answer, that is only
28 fair.
29
30 (To the witness) Your standards of animal welfare and
31 standards in Britain in general, are they high in terms of
32 conditions around the world? Are they accepted as being
33 high standards of animal welfare, or better standards than
34 other countries in the league table of world countries?
35 A. I think that is such a general question that, quite
36 honestly, you see good and bad in every husbandry system
37 all over the world and not just with chickens, with all
38 sorts of animals.
39
40 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think are you merely being asked whether
41 the UK is in Premier Division or the First, Second or Third
42 really?
43 A. And I am finding it difficult to say.
44
45 Q. If you cannot say, say "I cannot say"?
46 A. Because I think poultry systems throughout the world
47 are inherently variable and there are good parts and bad
48 parts in many systems. I think it is such a general
49 comment. The only thing I would say is that British people
50 and British stockmen by and large have very high standards
51 and the people who live on and manage farms do care very
52 much for their stock but there are always exceptions.
53
54 MR. MORRIS: Would they have higher standards and greater
55 standards of care than other countries? Are they in the
56 premier league of that?
57 A. I have to say that I have seen many poultry systems all
58 over the world and I would say that the UK are very good,
59 but I have also seen good systems in other parts of the
60 world as well.
