Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 43


     
     1
         MR. RAMPTON:  Unless Mr. Morris is going to suggest that whole
     2        cows are used for McDonald's hamburgers, this line of
              cross-examination has no purpose whatsoever.  He knows
     3        perfectly well which part of a cow is used for hamburgers
              because it is in the evidence.
     4
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What is the point you are seeking to make?
     5
         MR. MORRIS:  I was trying to identify the parts of the cow that
     6        would be used for hamburgers, to compare, but I do not
              happen to remember which particular part of the cow would
     7        be used.
 
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you know yourself?
              A.  Forequarter.
     9
         Q.   The forequarters.  When we come to cows, it is the
    10        forequarters; what about the fat there?
              A.  Comparing forequarter cow versus four quarter, let us
    11        say, steer, there will be a tremendous range within each.
              It would overlap, there would not be any large
    12        differences, I suspect, but I do not know.
 
    13   Q.   Does that pale into insignificance with what the processor
              does?
    14        A.  It does because there is a lot of trim as well.  When
              the carcass is processed in the abattoir before it goes to
    15        McKey's, for example, there would be fat trim as well when
              it is cut up.
    16
         MR. MORRIS:  You said in Scotland it is your information that
    17        McDonald's suppliers supply Aberdeen Angus beef, is that
              correct?
    18        A.  I am not sure whether it is Aberdeen Angus; they do
              get some beef from Scotland, yes, that is correct.
    19
         Q.   That would not be dairy cows?
    20        A.  As I understand it, it is not dairy cows.  That is
              correct.
    21
         Q.   Is there any welfare implications in the transport of cows
    22        to markets and then to McKey's?
              A.  To the slaughterhouse, you mean?
    23
         Q.   Yes.  If you could summarise some of the welfare problems
    24        associated with that?
              A.  I think the first point to remember (which I mentioned
    25        the other day) was that dairy cows are used to being
              handled, so they are quite different from, say, a heifer 
    26        or a steer which is taken off more extensive types of 
              conditions and they are not used to being handled.  So, 
    27        the animal you are dealing with in the first place is not
              an intractable animal; it is easy to handle.  That is
    28        point one.  That in itself means that it is less prone to
              trauma, less prone to abuse as well.  It is not going to
    29        be so provocative in terms of abuse.
 
    30        However, transport may well be stressing to the cow.  They
              often are put through an auction ring before they are

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