Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 33

     
     1   MS. STEEL:   In the left-hand column, the fourth paragraph, the
              third conclusion was that:  "... rearing birds free range,
     2        with good opportunities to exercise, either on a low plane
              of nutrition or at intensive broiler rates, reduced, but
     3        did not eliminate leg weaknesses".  So, there is an
              improvement if the birds have movement?
     4        A.  That is correct.  If they have outdoor facilities.
              That is what that says.
     5
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is that related to the amount of walking
     6        they do, training, in other words?
              A.  It would be related to live weight.
     7
         MR. RAMPTON:  One does need to read on ---
     8
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Let me read the whole paragraph.
     9
         MR. RAMPTON:  -- in order to get the full sense of what the
    10        authors are saying.
 
    MS. STEEL:   I am not sure what point Mr. Rampton is making
              there.
    12
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are you putting to Dr. Gregory that if birds
    13        are free range, they are likely to have less leg weakness
              than if they are raised in units like the Sun Valley one?
    14
         MS. STEEL:   Less problems with leg weakness.
    15
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What do you say about that suggestion?
    16        A.  I would say that it reduces the level of leg weakness,
              but there are other underlying causes, as is the
    17        conclusion in the final sentence of that paragraph.
 
    18   MS. STEEL:   Yes, certainly.  In fact, at the top of the next
              paragraph it does actually say that the birds in the free
    19        range flock were actually four weeks older when they were
              scored?
    20        A.  Yes, there are confounding factors if you are doing a
              strict comparison, but if you are talking about
         prevalences between systems, the comment you made as a
              generalisation is probably correct.
    22
         Q.   So, the conclusion is by and large that it is the methods
    23        of rearing and the inbreeding that are causing the
              problems?
    24        A.  Inbreeding is not quite the right choice of words; let
              us say it is the genetic selection, intensity and pattern.
    25
         Q.   OK. 
    26 
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is part of the rapid growth rate, is 
    27        it?
              A.  Yes, one could argue that there has been too much
    28        focusing on growth rate relative to other criteria like
              ability to walk.
    29
         MS. STEEL:   If we go on to the third paragraph in the second
    30        column:  "The degree of gait deformity acceptable before
              the welfare of a bird is compromised unduly is difficult