Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 30

     
     1   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Very well.
 
     2   MS. STEEL:   If the water is spilt that leads to problems with
              deterioration of the quality of the environment/index.html">litter?
     3        A.  Yes, and also it can lead to problems with the
              atmosphere in the shed as well.
     4
         Q.   Right.  Higher ammonia levels?
     5        A.  And possibly high humidity.
 
     6   Q.   It could also lead to Hock Burn?
              A.  That is correct.
     7
         Q.   When you say on page 5 of your statement, just the very
     8        last sentence on chickens, that the humidity was good in
              comparison, would you actually say it is good, full stop?
     9        A.  Yes.  When you walk into a shed from the lobby or from
              the outdoors, that is the best occasion in which to get a
    10        subjective impression of air quality.  It is something one
              should be aware of as one goes into the shed.  It is
         something to be looked for.  When I did this, I did not
              find anything remarkable about the air quality.  I thought
    12        it was satisfactory.
 
    13   Q.   Nothing unusual in terms of the industry?
              A.  Certainly, not -- well, it was at an average to above
    14        average standard.  When I say it was good quality in
              comparison with many other sheds, other sheds can have
    15        high humidity, high ammonia, so it may have been slightly
              above average.
    16
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think you were being asked what you
    17        thought, regardless of comparison with the industry, of
              the level of humidity, what your personal view was?
    18        A.  I thought it was satisfactory.  Now, there is one
              comment I would add, that is, it is 74 per cent humidity.
    19        The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food would
              recommend 70 per cent as an upper limit because the environment/index.html">litter
    20        can absorb moisture.  That refers to shavings environment/index.html">litter, not
              to paper environment/index.html">litter, which is used at this particular
         company.  So as to whether that is a likelihood should be
              addressed to Dr. Pattison.
    22
         Q.   Is it right there is a relationship between the weight of
    23        the chicken and leg weaknesses?
              A.  It is not a linear relationship, but there is a
    24        relationship, yes.  It is a curvilinear relationship.
 
    25   Q.   Would it be fair it say then that the heavier the chicken
              is, the more likely it is to have leg problems? 
    26        A.  It is a curvilinear relationship, so you have not only 
              heavy birds which can be associated with leg weakness, but 
    27        also very small birds can be associated with leg weakness.
 
    28   Q.   Why is that?
              A.  There are two possible explanations of which I think
    29        the former is possibly the most likely, and that is by
              virtue of having a leg weakness problem, a bird would be
    30        unable to compete satisfactorily for feed and water.  So
              it would grow slower in comparison with the rest of the