Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 29

     
     1
         Q.   So these would be subject to the problems such as spilling
     2        and ---
              A.  Yes, indeed.
     3
         Q.   -- and under sized birds not being able to reach them.
     4        A.  That depends upon the height at which they are
              adjusted.  These drinkers are individually adjusted, so it
     5        would be within the capability of the personnel operating
              the shed to vary the height.
     6
         Q.   Right.  At what, you mean, vary the height at different
     7        times of the day?
              A.  Yes, different times of the day, different stages of
     8        the growth of the crop as well.
 
     9   Q.   Is that normal to vary them?
              A.  The normal procedure is to raise the drinkers as the
    10        birds get older to allow greater clearance underneath the
              drinkers such that they do not knock them or spill the
         water.  It is normal practice to adjust the height of the
              drinkers during the growth period.
    12
         Q.   But not several times a day?
    13        A.  Not during several times a day.
 
    14   Q.   So the smaller birds, if they could not reach it, they are
              not going to be adjusted at different times of the day so
    15        they can get to them?
              A.  Oh, no.
    16
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are they all at the same height or do you
    17        have the occasional one lowered?
              A.  That is a good question in the case of this situation
    18        for this company, and I suggest you address that question
              to Dr. Pattison because I do not know the answer in 1991
    19        for these drinkers.
 
    20   MS. STEEL:   Do you know what percentage of birds would be
              likely to die from dehydration with these drinkers before
         the improved version came in?
              A.  Not in the shed, no, but, to be honest, I do not think
    22        anybody can give you that answer.  The nearest we can get
              to it would be the prevalence of dehydration in the
    23        undersized birds in the survey of dead on arrival birds
              which was reported previously.
    24
         Q.   Right.  I cannot remember what that is.
    25        A.  That is the nearest estimate we have, but it is not a
              true reflection of what mortality would be in the shed. 
    26 
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am not suggesting we look it up now, but 
    27        was there a dehydration item in there?
              A.  Yes, there was an association between undersized birds
    28        and dehydration which would imply they may not have been
              able to reach the drinkers.
    29
         Q.   That appeared on the table, did it?
    30        A.  Yes, in the paper.