Day 108 - 27 Mar 95 - Page 25
1 hours". We did point out to them that this was illegal and
2 they withdrew the water aspect because it is illegal -- no,
3 it was not that, it was turn the lights off for 24 hours
4 and withdraw food and water and they did admit that that
5 was encouraging illegal practice and it was changed.
6
7 Q. What part of that would be encouraging illegal practice?
8 A. Withdrawing water, I think, was the thing and turning
9 the lights off, so they would not know where the water was.
10
11 Q. The reference there to the RSPCA bracketing that along with
12 ----
13
14 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am sorry, let me just ask another question
15 first: When did you get the impression that false molting
16 was less popular?
17 A. I do a lot of reading. I read, you know.
18
19 Q. Do not bother about where from, but where do you put the
20 change?
21 A. I have had the vague impression over the last four or
22 five years it is less popular.
23
24 MS. STEEL: It says: "The RSPCA bracketed false molting with
25 debeaking as something which should be prohibited by
26 regulation". Is that the position now, that they are
27 seeking a ban on that?
28 A. I do not know.
29
30 Q. You do not know?
31 A. No.
32
33 Q. Okay. Do you feel that those practices should be banned?
34 A. Yes, I think it is another example of total
35 exploitation of the birds. I know that in America -- I
36 have heard this from Peter Dunn who is, or was -- I think
37 he may still be -- the Head of the Agriculture College in
38 the West of Scotland, and he told me personally that he had
39 been to America recently and that they just literally half
40 starved the birds, or three-quarters starved them, or when
41 their comb starts turning blue, they start reviving, and I
42 have heard that from different sources, but certainly Peter
43 Dunn is very well-known in this field, so I took it
44 seriously and it is a world-wide problem, but I think it is
45 not so severely carried out in this country.
46
47 Q. Right. Before Chickens' Lib starting campaigning on the
48 broiler industry, and research in the broiler industry, are
49 you aware of whether any other organisations were
50 investigating this area or campaigning on this area?
51 A. Not in depth, no. I think there were references.
52 I know that our organisation was the first to look into
53 that in depth. I think that is generally recognised in the
54 welfare movement.
55
56 MR. MORRIS: When you are speaking, you are tailing off at the
57 end?
58 A. I am sorry, I will amend my ways.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think perhaps you speak quite quickly,
