Day 108 - 27 Mar 95 - Page 41


     
     1        rate.  You said "hock burn and things like that", so
     2        talking about damp conditions, is that still a problem or
     3        not?
     4        A.  I am sure it is.  I am sure it varies from unit to unit
     5        because of the system of the drinkers and so on, but there
     6        have been massive outbreaks of viral diseases over the last
     7        few years and when one is over another tends to -- for
     8        instance, Gumboro was a real devastation three or four
     9        years ago, and it is now partially controlled by
    10        vaccination but they have to be very, very careful when the
    11        vaccine is administered or it knocks out the vaccines for
    12        other diseases, so it is something of a vicious circle and
    13        viral diseases are very, very common and most of them, I
    14        would suggest, cause diarrhoea as part of their symptoms.
    15
    16   Q.   Is that the same for Gumboro disease?
    17        A.  Yes.  Most chicken illnesses are first detected by
    18        drinking a lot and damp or liquid feces.
    19
    20   Q.   What effect would that have on the environment/index.html">litter?
    21        A.  That would have a very dire effect on the environment/index.html">litter
    22        because it would be much, much worse instantly.
    23
    24   Q.   You say environment/index.html">litter condition is something that you believe has
    25        improved over the last five years, so the situation ----
    26        A.  What you see at the retail end has certainly improved
    27        somewhat but, as I say, it could be -- yes, I think it
    28        probably has because I think the drinkers have improved and
    29        it is now seen as a real menace and people do try to
    30        modernise their drinking systems.  I think that is true,
    31        but you still see plenty birds with hock burns.
    32
    33   Q.   The problem has not been eliminated?
    34        A.  I am sure it has not.
    35
    36   Q.   What is your view about the possibilities for broiler
    37        chickens dust-bathing in the environment/index.html">litter in broiler units?
    38        A.  I think that would depend entirely on the environment/index.html">litter
    39        condition.
    40
    41   Q.   Can you just expand a little?
    42        A.  If it is triable, they can dust-bathe.  If it is not,
    43        they certainly cannot, so that it could be totally
    44        unrewarding.  It will depend entirely on the environment/index.html">litter
    45        condition.  I think probably dust-bathing is more important
    46        the older the bird gets.  I think probably chicks do less
    47        of it, so possibly it is not such an important element. It
    48        is certainly nothing like with a battery hen.
    49
    50   Q.   Have you seen any Sun Valley birds other than on videos and 
    51        in photographs? 
    52        A.  No. 
    53
    54   Q.   Have you had any direct contact with Dr. Pattison of Sun
    55        Valley?
    56        A.  He has been present at these four meetings I have
    57        spoken of, and I have met him at one or two conferences,
    58        symposium and whatever, and then I 'phoned him up after I
    59        had been sent video evidence and photographs of Sun Valley
    60        turkeys because I was very concerned about the welfare

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