Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 21

     
     1   Q.   Nearly finished on hygiene, Mr. Bowes.  So far as you are
     2        aware, has there ever been any case of human food poisoning
     3        attributable directly to your product that you know of?
     4        A.  In the early 60s we did have a situation where
     5        salmonella was traced back to our factory, not the present
     6        factory, our old factory, and all tests were done in trying
     7        to trace it.  It could not be found.  In fact, stool tests
     8        were taken from the staff and it was still not to be found
     9        traced to us.  But, unfortunately, my brother and I, we
    10        both worked in the plant at nights loading the meat.
    11
    12   Q.   Sorry?
    13        A.  My brother and I worked in the plants at night loading
    14        the meat, and that is all we did at that time.  My brother,
    15        he was found to be a salmonella carrier.
    16
    17   Q.   Really?
    18        A.  Yes, so that is the only unfortunate incidence that we
    19        have had.  I must admit that my father, my brother and
    20        I originally did not give stool tests, so we just thought
         we were better than other people, unfortunately.
    22
    23   Q.   Is your brother younger than you?
    24        A.  Yes, he is.
    25
    26   Q.   Is he allowed anywhere near the meat nowadays?
    27        A.  Well, he was banned from being in the meat factory for
    28        six months and he has forgotten to come back, sir.
    29
    30   Q.   So which side of the business does he look after?
    31        A.  He looks after the farming side.
    32
    33   Q.   Finally, on hygiene, Mr. Bowes:  Has your company, so far
    34        as you are aware, ever been prosecuted for any breach of
    35        any hygiene provision under any part of the regulations or
    36        laws of this country?
    37        A.  No, sir, not to my knowledge.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just pause there a minute.  Yes?
    40
    MR. RAMPTON:  Mr. Bowes, we are going to go in more detail
    42        through the life of a Bowes' pig from birth to death, if we
    43        may:  There are two kinds of facility that you farm; one is
    44        the indoor unit and the other the outdoor units?
    45        A.  That is correct.
    46
    47   Q.   Can I take outdoor units first?  Where do the sows --
    48        I will start earlier on in the biological process, if
    49        I may:  By what means are the sows impregnated?
    50        A.  By natural service by the bore, sir. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Does this process, you will forgive me for asking what may 
    53        seem idiot questions, require any kind of human assistance?
    54        A.  The only assistance that is needed by a human is to
    55        take the sow when it is on heat to the bore.  That is all,
    56        sir.
    57
    58   Q.   How many times in the course of a year will a sow come on
    59        heat and be taken to the bore?
    60        A.  About twice, just over twice, sir.