Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 03
1 fenced off with a wire cage. It is padlocked to prevent
people putting their hands into the water bath itself.
2
Q. Was that the situation at Sun Valley?
3 A. No.
4 Q. Did you make recommendations concerning this in order to
make it more easy to observe the effect of the stun bath?
5 A. No.
6 Q. Do you not think it is something that would be important?
A. It is important to monitor the prevalence of prestun
7 shocks. How important it is to have a very accurate
estimate is debatable. Provided you do not see any you
8 are observing for a period that would be acceptable, for
example. In order to make modifications to allow them to
9 have easier access, physical access, would require quite
an upheaval in the line, point one; point two, they just
10 fitted that line. They are, at the time I visited, they
were sorting the teething problems such as that.
11
Q. I thought on the first visit -----
12 A. That is correct. You are correct, yes, OK. I beg
your pardon. On the first visit there were prestun
13 shocks, that was an old line -- can I add something? When
I described the situation I was picturing in my mind the
14 visit in April.
15 Q. OK.
A. I will have to rethink your questions with regard to
16 the visit in February, so give me just half a minute,
please, because I will have to picture them now. OK. In
17 my visit in February the plant was undergoing some
reconstruction in order to provide for the changes which
18 I observed in April. The water bath area did have
restricted access. If my memory serves me correctly,
19 there was a big tarpaulin sheet which was part of the
builders' construction around the water bath, and that
20 made access restricted. Please confirm that with
Dr. Pattison as to whether that is the case.
21
Q. So the restricted access on that occasion was due to
22 something temporary?
A. This is what I believe from my memory.
23
MR. JUSTICE BELL: How does restricted access affect the matter
24 of prestunning?
A. It affects the ability to inspect the birds in a
25 satisfactory manner to see their welfare is OK.
26 Q. I see. It is not related to whether they are actually
prestunned; it is a question of whether how quickly one
27 appreciates, if at all, they are being prestunned?
A. Correct.
28
MS. STEEL: Right. Obviously it is important to be able to
29 find out whether they are receiving prestunned shocks
because that is something that causes them pain?
30 A. Correct.