Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 13
1 about double-deck?
2 A. There is more -----
3
4 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You did ask. Unless you have anything to add
5 to what you said yesterday with regard to gradients and
6 faeces and urine from the top deck to the lower?
7 A. I just repeat that.
8
9 MR. MORRIS: Their conclusion: "We are not satisfied that this
10 legislation is being properly enforced"?
11 A. Where are you, what page?
12
13 Q. At the bottom of paragraph 30. Because there are laws on
14 the steepness of ramps and preventing animals from falling
15 from ramps and things like that; on the question of
16 enforcement legislation on unloading, would you concur with
17 their view?
18 A. Yes. It was written in 1984 and action has been taken,
19 not adequately I would say, but some action has been
20 taken. Again, this is one of new responsibilities for the
21 National Meat Hygiene Service which also covers welfare.
22
23 Q. On point 34 on page 12: "We have been concerned at the
24 excessive use of electric goads in some slaughterhouses,
25 both in the unloading process and in the driving of
26 animals, particularly pigs, into the stunning area".
27 Forgetting the pigs because the evidence in terms of the
28 slaughterhouse of pigs, according to Mr. Bowes, they do not
29 use them. "It was clear that in the hands of some
30 slaughterhouse staff", this is about the third sentence,
31 "use of the electric goad became an automatic act in the
32 process of their handling of all animals, regardless of
33 whether or not the animals were refusing to move
34 forward." Have you seen it used as an automatic act?
35 A. What I saw was the electric goad used so-called to
36 sting an animal, to paralyse it, so it could be dragged
37 along, and that would make it easier for the slaughterman
38 to handle. That is what this was referring to.
39
40 Q. But do some people use it as a matter of routine?
41 A. That particular practice?
42
43 Q. No, I mean use goads as a matter of practice for each cow?
44 A. In handling in some lairages I have seen and also in
45 some markets, the electric goads are used routinely for
46 cattle and not so much now because of welfare interests on
47 pigs.
48
49 Q. On point 40 it talks about regulations to do with lairages
50 in terms of the welfare of animals and it says: "Whilst we
51 are reasonably satisfied that these Regulations do provide
52 for acceptable standards of lairing, we are not satisfied
53 that they are being adequately enforced." What is your
54 view on that from what you have seen?
55 A. We did have a lot of concern at that time about animals
56 kept overnight, as to whether they were properly fed and
57 watered, and whether if any animals went down with illness
58 or any other reason that they were promptly attended to --
59 still have some reservations over that.
60
