Day 092 - 27 Feb 95 - Page 12

     
     1        A.  Yes.  Do all of them have hydraulics -- no, they do
     2        not.
     3
     4   MS. STEEL:  Is it just a small number; is that a recent
     5        development, hydraulic platforms?
     6        A.  I do not think it is -- well, it depends on what is
     7        recent, in the last ten or more than years?
     8
     9   Q.   Five years?
    10        A.  Yes, it has been used, it has been available but only,
    11        mostly the ones who have commercial farms are the ones that
    12        can afford to use them.
    13
    14   Q.   What kind of things do the pigs die from during transport?
    15        A.  There is a very small percentage of pigs that die
    16        during transport.  It is from old data that I have seen --
    17        I have never seen anything more than one percentage.
    18        I have always seen less than one per cent.  The average in
    19        the industry of the commercial farmers is very low,
    20        extremely low.
    21
    22   Q.   You did say one per cent when you were giving evidence ---
    23        A.  Less than one per cent.
    24
    25   Q.   -- when Mr. Rampton was asking.
    26        A.  From those that die, mostly would probably die from
    27        heart attacks.
    28
    29   Q.   Is that something that concerns you?
    30        A.  Yes, well, it concerns everybody that owns or uses that
    31        animal.  If an animal dies, obviously, it cannot be used
    32        and increases the cost.  So, it is for the benefit of the
    33        industry not to -- to avoid it.
    34
    35   Q.   So what has been found to be the cause of these heart
    36        attacks?
    37        A.  It depends on the animal, but you could make a direct
    38        assumption it is because the animal gets nervous and it has
    39        a heart attack.  It is a very -- a species that is very
    40        nervous by nature.
    41
    42   Q.   On top of the one per cent of pigs that die during
    43        transport, how often do animals suffer, the pigs suffer,
    44        any injuries?
    45        A.  "Any injuries" -- that is a wide statement.  I do not
    46        know what you mean by that.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have given one per cent or less than one
    49        per cent fatalities.
    50        A.  Yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   You are being asked if you can give an equivalent figure 
    53        for some -- I will put in the word "significant" --
    54        significant injury?
    55        A.  OK.  Very small again.  I would say it is in the one
    56        digit percentage-wise, two, three per cent maybe.
    57
    58   Q.   What are those injuries caused by?
    59        A.  Usually they are caused by themselves sometimes, just
    60        by moving around.  When you move animals during