Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 58


     
     1        A.  Yes, I do -- not as crucial.
     2
     3   Q.   How crucial do you think accuracy of the shot is in
     4        relation to effective stunning?
     5        A.  It obviously is important to render the animal
     6        insensible.  Like you say, the size of the charge, I mean,
     7        the reason that we use a higher charge is so that, you
     8        know, there is a small amount of leeway between a perfect
     9        stun and an imperfect stun.
    10
    11   Q.   Do you use pithing?
    12        A.  No, we do not.
    13
    14   Q.   Did you ever use pithing at Midland Meat?
    15        A.  Yes, we did.
    16
    17   Q.   When did you stop?
    18        A.  18 months ago ---
    19
    20   Q.   What was -----
    21        A.  -- two years ago.
    22
    23   Q.   First of all, what was the reason for using pithing?
    24        A.  The reason for pithing was to disrupt the lower part of
    25        the brain so that during sticking the animal does not kick.
    26
    27   Q.   So that is for the safety of the operatives, not the
    28        animal?
    29        A.  Yes.
    30
    31   Q.   Why did you stop?
    32        A.  Because the person doing the pithing was pithing one
    33        animal under a suspended -- another animal which was
    34        suspended above him and, therefore, from a health and
    35        safety point of view, it was not a good idea.
    36
    37   Q.   Did you believe pithing had any animal welfare
    38        implications, good or bad?
    39        A.  I think that in the event of an imperfect stun
    40        obviously pithing would disrupt, you know, the lower part
    41        of the brain and, therefore, ensure a better stun, but I do
    42        not think we have that many imperfect stuns anyway.
    43
    44   Q.   I cannot remember how many cattle it was he observed,
    45        Dr. Gregory, but he did not observe what he thought were
    46        any imperfect stuns at the time that he was there.  You
    47        have been there much longer than he was able to be; have
    48        you yourself taken an interest in the efficiency or
    49        effectiveness of the stunning at Midland Meat?
    50        A.  Yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   How often do you think that there is an imperfect stun? 
    53        A.  Not very often.  I am just trying to recall.  I think I
    54        may have seen it once or twice.
    55
    56   Q.   Once or twice?
    57        A.  Since I have been there, yes.
    58
    59   Q.   Who would judge -- let me ask this first -- who would judge
    60        whether there has been an imperfect stun?

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