Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 22
1 in relation to animals going for slaughter." It goes on.
2
3 But do you feel the situation for sick animals in transit
4 and slaughterhouses has improved, got worse or has stayed
5 the same since 1984?
6 A. The precautions have been tightened up as a result of
7 this sort of pressure.
8
9 Q. You said yesterday that the number of slaughterhouses, the
10 distances are greater now than they used to be?
11 A. That has certainly increased the difficulties in coming
12 to a decision.
13
14 Q. On 192, the last in this series of questions: "Where a
15 casualty animal is to be transported to the slaughterhouse,
16 it is essential that once there it is handled humanely and
17 slaughtered with the minimum of delay. We are not
18 satisfied that this is always the situation. In the course
19 of our visits we have seen injured animals manhandled off
20 transporters even though they were obviously suffering
21 considerable pain and discomfort." Have you seen that?
22 A. Yes, but I must say that again this has been adopted --
23 this has been acted on because now vets, with the exception
24 of a few derogations, vets should as a result of some of
25 these complaints should examine the animals antemortem when
26 they arrive at the slaughterhouse.
27
28 So, that implementation of a vet at the point of reception
29 or, at least, the vet's supervision -- the law is a little
30 bit vague, but there is much better chance now that an
31 ailing and sick animal will be picked out. There should be
32 facilities at any slaughterhouse or at markets now for a
33 pen for such animals where they can be, if necessary,
34 killed instantly.
35
36 Q. Has that provision of the vet's supervision for all animals
37 arriving at the slaughterhouse something that has happened
38 since 1990?
39 A. That has happened, according to EC regulations, since
40 the late 1980s.
41
42 Q. The last question is something I have not asked you at all,
43 on Section 9 on pages 50 and 51: "Management, supervision
44 and training". Just cast your eye over that whole section
45 to refresh your memory of it. In paragraph 202, the last
46 sentence: "Very often, and in the current economic climate
47 perhaps understandably, too much consideration is being
48 given to throughput levels with disregard for the welfare
49 of the animal." What is your view on the throughput
50 levels affecting the welfare of the animal?
51 A. Generally, experiments have been done convinced me that
52 as you increase the throughput, the level of stress
53 increased, the noise and other aversive factors.
54 Experiments have been done that I know of that indicate the
55 level of stress hormones goes up more in big
56 slaughterhouses with vast throughputs.
57
58 I think when you look at a section like this, I remember
59 now, it is worthwhile comparing this with the Home Office
60 Recommendations for laboratory staff dealing with such
