Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 15
1 Q. Are there any -- before I ask that question -- I did not
ask you, and I cannot remember if you said, I apologise if
2 you did, does fresh air get into the shed in any way or is
it completely enclosed?
3 A. Fresh air gets into the shed by -----
4 Q. It is not an air conditioning system?
A. By mechanical ventilation which is thermostatically
5 controlled.
6 Q. How do they cope if they have weather such as we have been
cursed with in these last three or four weeks?
7 A. This depends a lot upon the ventilation system used in
the particular shed. They do vary from shed to shed.
8 I did not check out the ventilation system for a heat
stress situation at this particular unit.
9
Q. So we must ask Dr. Pattison what techniques they use to
10 keep the temperature to an acceptable level?
A. Yes.
11
Q. This question I shall ask again in relation to different
12 areas of your expertise and your inspections of these
different operations. I am about to leave the broiler
13 unit at Sun Valley and move to their slaughtering
facilities, but before we do that I would like to ask you
14 this: Were there any aspects of the operation at the unit
which you would wish to see improved?
15 A. Within the limitations of the existing criteria for
broiler production, I think they are at a high standard
16 and they should maintain that high standard. I would like
to see the development of genetic strains which are less
17 prone to leg weakness of grade 3 level. I do not feel it
is necessarily within the remit of Sun Valley poultry to
18 achieve that. It is the breeding companies which are
unrelated companies to Sun Valley.
19
Q. How many chickens do the British consume every year,
20 Dr. Gregory?
A. Broiler chickens and hens, it would be around 650
21 million, I believe, but I am open to correction.
22 Q. That is about one a month per head population, roughly?
A. OK.
23
Q. Can we go away now -----
24
MR. JUSTICE BELL: While it is there, what would the genetic
25 variation be? Would it be so they were lighter and not so
heavy on their feet or legs, or would it strengthen their
26 legs or would it be much more sophisticated than that?
A. We are doing research at Bristol which is aimed at
27 answering your very question. The findings are showing
that the likely avenue for success is to improve the
28 criteria they are using when they select the birds. They
are selected for growth rate. They are not selecting
29 adequate criteria in terms of walking ability.
30 That is one particular breeding company we are
collaborating with. So it could be achieved just by
