Day 102 - 13 Mar 95 - Page 20

     
     1        McDonald's are concerned about the conditions in which the
     2        chickens which they use are reared and slaughtered, and
     3        that is why Dr. Pattison is here.
     4
     5   MS. STEEL:  Yes.  McDonald's says that it only deals with
     6        companies that have the highest animal welfare standards.
     7        Turkeys are kept by Sun Valley.  They are animals.  This is
     8        something where again they are ignoring the codes of
     9        practice and the welfare standards in this country.
    10
    11   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No.  I have to draw a line somewhere on the
    12        level of remoteness and it is against this.
    13
    14   MS. STEEL:   But it is not remote.
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have ruled against you, Ms. Steel.
    17
    18   MS. STEEL:   It is right, is it not, that over the last three
    19        years you have been replacing -----
    20
    MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Sit down for a while.  I will break off until
    22        about quarter past.  Mr. Morris, I will send or ask
    23        Mr. Stiles, if he comes up, I want you to keep him
    24        informed, please, as best you can.
    25
    26                       (Short Adjournment)
    27
    28   MR. MORRIS:  Just a quick couple of questions about the
    29        breeders, they are in artificial lighting conditions; is
    30        that correct?
    31        A.  They are.
    32
    33   Q.   That is for the whole of their lives, yes?
    34        A.  Yes.
    35
    36   Q.   How long do they live for?
    37        A.  Breeders are kept until they are 60 weeks of age.
    38
    39   MS. STEEL:  Over the last three years Sun Valley has been
    40        replacing the sheds and equipment with more new equipment.
         Prior to this, there were frequent problems with water
    42        lines breaking and drinkers spilling, were there not?
    43        A.  The old design of rainbow drinkers and pipes inevitably
    44        meant that there was more chance of them breaking or
    45        flooding, and the more modern equipment is designed to
    46        prevent that happening.
    47
    48   Q.   But it still happens and it is not a particularly rare
    49        occurrence now?
    50        A.  It can happen from time to time.  The whole point about 
    51        farm management is to keep all the equipment in good 
    52        condition so that the number of times that kind of accident 
    53        can happen is minimised.
    54
    55   Q.   You said you knew Mr. Thomas, he is one of your farmers?
    56        A.  Yes.
    57
    58   Q.   Is it right that some of his sheds are in a bad state of
    59        repair with fibre glass hanging out of the roof and other
    60        problems?