Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 25

     
     1        I just said to you?
     2
     3   Q.   Yes?
     4        A.  I have got 14 heifers which are out, but they can walk
     5        in and out.  They have an open barn and they can go out in
     6        the field and eat grass or come back in and eat silage and
     7        straw.  So, yes, I have some cattle out and I have more
     8        cattle in.
     9
    10   Q.   In your own observation, what brings them in, motivates
    11        them to come in, if they are free to come and go, is it
    12        perhaps a blizzard or something like that?
    13        A.  No, food.  That is the only they will respond to.  They
    14        will stand there eating grass in a rain storm.
    15
    16   Q.   Do cattle drink a lot of water?
    17        A.  Yes.
    18
    19   Q.   What, in your view, are the requirements for somebody who
    20        wishes to keep his animals well, in good condition and --
         I will not use the word "happy" -- comfortable as animals?
    22        A.  An adequate supply of food.
    23
    24   Q.   And water?
    25        A.  And water.
    26
    27   Q.   What attitude do you have, for example, to the use of
    28        sticks or goads with which to move animals?
    29        A.  I personally would rather use a goad than a stick.
    30
    31   Q.   Why is that?
    32        A.  Well, because a goad is not -- when you think of an
    33        animal's height, a goad is nothing.  I mean, the animals
    34        know if they touch an electric fence, and a goad is less
    35        than an electric fence.  I detest seeing anybody beat an
    36        animal because there is a chance of bruising and spoiling
    37        the meat.
    38
    39   Q.   Have you any experience of the kind of shock that is
    40        delivered by a goad?
         A.  Yes.
    42
    43   Q.   How did you achieve that experience?
    44        A.  By putting the goad on my own hands.
    45
    46   Q.   On your hand?
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   On which part of the hand?
    50        A.  I put it there on the palm. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Tell us what it was like. 
    53        A.  Well, it is two U2 batteries, so the charge is never
    54        extreme but it certainly is not as bad as touching an
    55        electric fence and we have all done that in our walks
    56        around the country.
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am happy to say I have not done it for many
    59        years, so perhaps you can help me.  Have electric fences
    60        changed in the charge ---