Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 45


     
     1
         Q.   Can we move then please to cattle?  The two plants that
     2        you listed, one was Midland Meat Packers in
              Northamptonshire, the other, we will not give a name to,
     3        was a somewhat smaller operation?
              A.  Yes.
     4
         Q.   The second.  Did you visit them on the same day, 21st
     5        April 1993?
              A.  Yes.
     6
         Q.   You did not see these animals before they arrived at the
     7        slaughter house, did you?
              A.  No.
     8
         Q.   The animals which -- sorry, the cattle which are
     9        slaughtered in this country in slaughter houses may come,
              may they not, from a variety of sources?
    10        A.  Yes.
 
    11   Q.   Farms, markets?
              A.  Yes.
    12
         Q.   And so on.  Taking Midland Meat Packers first, the larger
    13        of the two plants, what was the standard of care of the
              animals before they were slaughtered?
    14        A.  It depended -- the circumstances they were in, that is
              the lairage pen they are in, depended on how soon they
    15        arrived at the abattoir relative to the time at which they
              were being killed.  The lairage in fact was divided into
    16        two areas.
 
    17   Q.   Was there overnight lairage?
              A.  I believe so.
    18
         Q.   Did you see it?
    19        A.  I was not there overnight, but I believe the lower
              part of the lairage accommodation is used for overnight
    20        holding of cattle.
 
    21   Q.   There is another area for more recent arrivals?
              A.  Right.  They are moved up from the lower area to the
    22        higher area, which is nearer the stunning point.  The
              lower area was provided with forage and it was straw
    23        bedded and there was water available.
 
    24   Q.   Did it seem adequate to you?
              A.  It was adequate, yes.
    25
         Q.   For a night stay? 
    26        A.  Yes. 
  
    27   Q.   I mean, a roof over it?
              A.  Yes, it was protected from inclement weather.
    28
         Q.   Then the animals are moved from one or other of those
    29        places up, what, a ramp or a passageway?
              A.  There is a series of passageways, yes.
    30
         Q.   Did you watch them moving up the passageway?

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