Day 092 - 27 Feb 95 - Page 09

     
     1        question regarding the indoors-----
     2
     3   Q.   You are asked what the sort of setup would be, a typical
     4        setup, for weaners on to leaving the farm if it is an
     5        indoor system?
     6        A.  Then I say a cover likely most like a house without any
     7        walls, just the outside walls.  They have access to water.
     8        It could be similar to a bucket or mostly it is a through
     9        nipples so they can drink the water.  They have access to
    10        feed, obviously.  Some of them, depending on the
    11        conditions, could have a -- sorry, no, that is for outdoors
    12         -- then they have ventilation.
    13
    14   MS. STEEL:  So they would not always have straw in there either?
    15        A.  No, that is correct.
    16
    17   Q.   Is there a maximum stocking density for the pigs?
    18        A.  In the United States, no.
    19
    20   Q.   There is not?
         A.  As far as I know, no.
    22
    23   Q.   Does McDonald's specify a maximum stocking density?
    24        A.  No.
    25
    26   Q.   Does McDonald's have any specifications about the rearing
    27        of pigs?
    28        A.  McDonald's, no.  We follow again the Humane Treatment
    29        of Animals, the Act.  We do not.  We do have part of our
    30        specifications that says we do not use PSE meat -- pale,
    31        soft and exudative -- as well as dark meat which are
    32        indicators of stress to animals.  So, if any species is
    33        susceptible to stress that would be pork and it is so easy
    34        to detect just by looking at the meat.  We concentrate on
    35        that.  We do not use that.  That leads to the detriment of
    36        the farmer -- not to cause any stress to the animal.
    37
    38   Q.   Some stress is inevitable, is it not?
    39        A.  Of course, this is life.  This is Mother Nature.
    40
    Q.   So there has to be a certain amount of stress before you
    42        will get this effect?
    43        A.  Every animal species that lives has to undergo some
    44        kind of stress.
    45
    46   Q.   No, but the PSE you are talking about ---
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   -- it is not just any stress that will cause that effect?
    50        A.  No, that is a ----- 
    51 
    52   Q.   It will be extreme stress or something like that? 
    53        A.  Yes, it could be -- it is directly related to extreme
    54        stress over a short period of time.
    55
    56   Q.   Right, a short period of time?
    57        A.  Yes.
    58
    59   Q.   So that would be just prior to slaughter or something like
    60        that?