Day 109 - 28 Mar 95 - Page 21

     
     1        I think there would be no doubt about that in anybody's
     2        mind.
     3
     4   Q.   So that whole period from catching to slaughter, bearing in
     5        mind the things you have already said, throughout that
     6        process, how do you feel about that, from the bird's
     7        health?
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Has Mrs. Druce not answered that?
    10        A.  I think I have, yes.
    11
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You said they are under enormous stress.
    13        That is her view.
    14
    15   MR. MORRIS:  Continual?
    16        A.  Yes, I would think so, yes.
    17
    18   MS. STEEL:  You have mentioned in your statement about poor
    19        feathering in broiler chickens, so that is not just
    20        something that applies to battery chickens; is that right?
         A.  No, I have been surprised and I do not really know the
    22        answer.  There is very poor feathering in a lot of broiler
    23        chickens.  They seem to not, once they have got passed down
    24        stage, where they should be growing their first very
    25        healthy covering of feathers, it does seem that in broiler
    26        sheds they very often do not actually achieve that.  I am
    27        not sure of the reason.  I do not think anybody is.  I have
    28        not read any explanations to satisfy me.
    29
    30   Q.   The chickens that you kept from rearing, the day old
    31        chicks, did they have poor feathering?
    32        A.  No, I think we saw them -- they were the ones on the
    33        video and they went from down to feathers and then to a
    34        very, very adequate and clean covering of feathers.  There
    35        was no stage at which they were -- there is a slightly
    36        messy stage, if you like, when the feathers start poking
    37        through the down and then there is a bit of down left, but
    38        they were always very well covered.
    39
    40   Q.   They did not have big bald patches?
         A.  No, not at all, never.
    42
    43   Q.   I am just clearing up points.  In your statement you have
    44        mentioned that the Farm Animal Welfare Council suggested to
    45        the industry it should be in a position to show a
    46        significant improvement in the health status of broilers
    47        re: leg weakness, lameness, by the end of a five year
    48        period.  I did not know if there was a specific part you
    49        wanted to refer to, because you have a reference to the
    50        Farm Animal Welfare Council; I did not know if there was a 
    51        particular paragraph you wanted to point out? 
    52        A.  The leg weakness? 
    53
    54   Q.   In relation to improvements by the end of a five year
    55        period?
    56        A.  That has nearly elapsed, has it not?  I am surprised --
    57        I think I said yesterday that it has been known about for
    58        many years and it is -- they have been, I think the
    59        industry as a whole has been very, very slow in solving
    60        this problem.  But my feeling is that the whole broiler,