Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 12

     
     1        hardly walk, this company has identified that it is an
              infection and have used an effective way of eliminating
     2        it.
 
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I probably did not make myself clear.  What
              is the present situation, though, which they have had to
     4        remedy?  You did not spell that out to me.  A problem with
              leg weakness there, which they have had to remedy, or
     5        what?
              A.  That I cannot say.  You would have to ask Mark
     6        Pattison that; I do not know.
 
     7   MR. RAMPTON:  I think your suggestion was there might be some
              degree of infection at the hatchery?
     8        A.  Correct.
 
     9   Q.   Which developed into leg weakness or lameness in the adult
              birds; is that right?
    10        A.  Yes.
 
    Q.   As you say, we shall have to ask Dr. Pattison  about
              whether that is the root cause of it.  Can I ask you about
    12        these gait scores?  4 or 5 indicates what degree of
              lameness on the scale?
    13        A.  Grade 5 is unable to walk.  Grade 4 would walk a
              number of paces, two or three paces, and probably sit
    14        down; it would not be able to walk or sustain walking for
              any meaningful distance; it has to crawl around quite
    15        often to get to the feeder and drinker.
 
    16   Q.   I will do it this way, if I may:  When you saw the unit,
              there was, I believe, a mixture of male and female birds
    17        in the unit, is that right?
              A.  Correct.
    18
         Q.   Just before, at any rate one group of them were due to be
    19        removed and taken to the slaughter house?
              A.  Yes.
    20
         Q.   So was the unit at its maximum density when you saw it?
         A.  Yes.
 
    22   Q.   In this sense, not only that it has its maximum number of
              birds, but that the birds are at or nearly at their
    23        maximum size?
              A.  The females were nearly at their maximum size; the
    24        males were going to be grown on.
 
    25   Q.   That happens when the females have gone?
              A.  That is correct. 
    26 
         Q.   So the maximum density would be, would it not, 
    27        Dr. Gregory, unless my logic is up the spout, when the
              females are nearly grown to the maximum and the males are
    28        with them; is that right?
              A.  Yes.
    29
         Q.   That is about the time when you saw this unit?
    30        A.  Yes.