Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 11

     
     1        operators."   What is your view on the modern purpose built
     2        premises; do you agree with their analysis?
     3        A.  There are shortcomings.
     4
     5   Q.   Pardon?
     6        A.  There are still shortcomings.
     7
     8   Q.   Is that in all of them or in some of them?
     9        A.  Every new one seems to have some shortcomings.  They
    10        vary, the different sorts of shortcomings, but the
    11        recommendations from the government on -- since this
    12        document was prepared -- I think you probably have a copy
    13        of another document on the design and running of
    14        slaughterhouses, and there are still problems.
    15
    16   Q.   On point 26 at the bottom of page 9:  "We believe that
    17        welfare needs are not adequately taken into account in the
    18        granting of licences/registrations of slaughterhouses."
    19        What is your experience?  Are welfare considerations taken
    20        into account or has it got better or worse over the years?
         A.  Those shortcomings refer, I would think, primarily to
    22        the licensing and training of slaughtermen and what action
    23        is taken if they are accused, for instance, of cruelty to
    24        animals in other respects, as to whether their licences are
    25        taken away, whether their licences are restricted in one
    26        area to one species of animal.
    27
    28   Q.   Is it true that welfare needs are not adequately taken into
    29        account when the licences and registrations are granted?
    30        A.  They certainly would not satisfy me.
    31
    32   Q.   Even now?
    33        A.  No.
    34
    35   Q.   Why would they not satisfy you now?
    36        A.  There is insufficient training in animal behaviour and
    37        handling animals.
    38
    39   Q.   Yes, I think this report refers to that a bit later on.
    40        Then the last point over the page on page 10, the last
         sentence says:  "All too often it appeared that investment
    42        in slaughterhouse improvements had been geared solely to
    43        increasing throughput and profitability."  What is your
    44        view on that?
    45        A.  I would say that animal welfare has now become a
    46        marketing issue, if you like.  There is a -- you can charge
    47        a premium for certain things, so that although that
    48        statement was undoubtedly true in 1984, other factors have
    49        come in and investment in slaughterhouses, although
    50        predominantly aimed at increasing throughput, that 
    51        throughput has also to cater for niche markets, if you 
    52        like.  So, the statement could be modified slightly as a 
    53        result of the activities, particularly, of animal
    54        welfarists.  That has been adopted to some extent.  I mean,
    55        some action has been taken on the basis of this report.
    56
    57   Q.   Welfare of animals being a profitable factor in some market
    58        niches, when did that really start having any significant
    59        effect?
    60        A.  I suppose I would say during the early 1980s.  It was