Day 091 - 17 Feb 95 - Page 61
1 Q. You have agreed that when the chickens are transported some
2 of them die from ascites, so obviously they have not been
3 spotted by the stockmen as being ill?
4 A. Well, maybe they were not showing any particular signs
5 at that time.
6
7 Q. But there might have been signs that could have been
8 noticed had the bird been picked up and checked
9 individually?
10 A. They might have been but it is all a matter of degree.
11
12 Q. What I am suggesting is that unless something has virtually
13 keeled over or is quite blatantly obvious there is
14 something wrong, you would not notice?
15 A. I think most of the problems are picked up pretty well
16 by the good stockmen.
17
18 MR. MORRIS: They may not be picked up on each walk. In three
19 quarters of an hour the stockman on his own has to check
20 25,000 birds, 200 feeds possibly in some sheds, 200 feed
21 outlets, 150 drink bells, if you are still using the bell
22 system or nipples otherwise, fans, check for ammonia, wet
23 patches, and things like that, logically it is impossible
24 on each walk to check for the welfare, for each bird that
25 may be welfare compromised?
26 A. You have to remember that they are doing this four or
27 five times a day. They do not -- they are not having to
28 make adjustments to all those factors every time they walk
29 the sheds.
30
31 Q. So do you think over a course of the day they may, in fact,
32 be able to check the welfare which birds are, in your
33 words, welfare compromised?
34 A. They certainly do.
35
36 Q. But it would not be reasonable to expect them to do that on
37 each walk?
38 A. They will do it as part of an assessment on each visit
39 through the farm, and doing it four or five times a day
40 I am absolutely sure they can pick up anything which is
41 abnormal.
42
43 Q. By the end of the day?
44 A. Yes.
45
46 Q. But if there were two people it would be easy to do that
47 job, would it not?
48 A. I would not accept that.
49
50 Q. You would not accept that?
51 A. I do not see why it makes it easier. Have you ever
52 walked a poultry shed? How do you know it makes it
53 easier?
54
55 Q. But I am a human being and capable of using my logic.
56
57 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You cannot ask Mr. Morris questions.
58 A. Well, I do not accept his view.
59
60 MR. MORRIS: Have you ever cross-examined a witness? You do not
