Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 08

     
     1        temperature control, adequate feed and water, maintenance
              of good environment/index.html">litter, detection of ill health, removal of dead
     2        birds, treatment of any ill birds, careful handling of the
              birds, routine inspection of the birds, and at the time of
     3        depopulation of the shed they have to be handled
              considerately and without causing trauma.
     4
         Q.   This is when they are to be transported?
     5        A.  To the slaughter house.
 
     6   Q.   To the slaughter house.  Broadly speaking, I am going to
              come to the detail in a moment, how did the unit at Sun
     7        Valley which you examined match up to those criteria,
              broadly speaking?
     8        A.  May I answer your question by comparing it with other
              similar units?
     9
         Q.   Yes, by all means.
    10        A.  I think it was at a higher standard than the average.
 
    Q.   Yes.
              A.  In a number of respects.  Firstly, it had higher
    12        lighting levels than is usually encountered, at least that
              I have observed; secondly, the standard of environment/index.html">litter
    13        management I thought was good; thirdly, the prevalence of
              leg weakness was low by comparison with other flocks
    14        I observed.
 
    15   Q.   Is space important?
              A.  Yes.
    16
         Q.   Living room, as one might call it?
    17        A.  Indeed.  It was within the codes of practice standards
               -- it was close to the codes of practice, I beg your
    18        pardon.
 
    19   Q.   What about the temperature control because that is
              important in summer as well as in winter -- perhaps more
    20        so?
              A.  That is correct.  I visited the unit in April, so it
         was not in high summer.  I did not see the unit being
              stretched to its limit in terms of heat tolerance.  I saw
    22        it at a time when there were not excessively high or low
              temperatures.  Judging from the facilities that were
    23        available, that would include, for example, the brooders,
              the ventilation system, I considered that it was at a high
    24        standard relative to the industry at large.
 
    25   Q.   What about the provision of food and water?  I mean, does
              somebody go in with a basket and scatter food or do they 
    26        feed themselves from an automatic machine? 
              A.  Taking food first, there is a feeder system on a 
    27        conveyor which operates to fill the trough automatically.
              In the case of water there were nipple drinkers, there is
    28        a beam with nipple drinkers suspended below the beam and
              there was a water consumption monitor at the lobby to the
    29        shed.
 
    30   Q.   Does it sometimes happen in broiler units that the
              drinking nipples are set at a height which cannot be