Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 24
1 well, then if they are in a hurry and they want to get the
2 animals through quickly, they will dispense with the
3 stunning and put them straight through on the ordinary line
4 by cutting their throats first. That is what gives us
5 concern over the welfare because it is an inducement to cut
6 corners.
7
8 Q. So that actually happens, does it? You have seen that
9 happen where stunning is missed out completely?
10 A. I have seen it happen, but I cannot say I have seen it
11 happen recently.
12
13 Q. How prevalent would that have been when you have seen it,
14 or in the past?
15 A. I have only seen it once when I could really pin it
16 down. You have to remember that this requires quite a lot
17 of -----
18
19 Q. If it is only once then may be it is best to leave it, but
20 you still have concern, though, about being in a hurry; are
21 you still concerned about that or is that something that
22 has been eliminated?
23 A. The main thing is that a modern slaughterhouse is a
24 killing factory, really, killing animals rather than, say,
25 assembling motor cars. If someone along the line falls
26 behind, there is always a danger that the whole line will
27 have to slow up if the line is moving too fast, and then
28 people will get worried because the various other parts of
29 the system will be delayed or interfered with. So, there
30 is a great pressure to do things according to the speed of
31 the line.
32
33 Q. That adversely affects the welfare of the animals, yes, is
34 that your view?
35 A. Yes, because it means you have to cut corners sometimes
36 and do things quicker than they should be done.
37
38 Q. I think that is all I wanted to ask. Thank you.
39
40 MR. JUSTICE BELL: We will have the five-minute break.
41
42 (Short Adjournment)
43
44 MR. MORRIS: There was one point yesterday you asked me to check
45 up, if I could, it was about the percentage of cattle and
46 pigs McDonald's used some part of, if you remember?
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No. Do not worry about that because
49 I refreshed my memory of what Mr. Bowes said. It was
50 taking in the 60 per cent from outside. He also gave some
51 evidence about supervision of their suppliers, and relating
52 to their specification which I do not think I was ever
53 actually shown during his evidence. Keep it flagged for
54 your own purposes and make a note so that, if you want, you
55 can address me on it in due course but I do not think there
56 is any need to go into it. I would rather you asked your
57 questions and we can see where, if at all, Dr. Long's
58 evidence about practices which he has observed conflicts
59 with what is likely or not to be the situation either at
60 Bowes or any outside supplier of Bowes, whether it be
