Day 101 - 10 Mar 95 - Page 30
1 Q. Have you seen the chickens at their maximum stocking
2 density?
3 A. I have seen them pretty close to it, maybe a day or day
4 two away.
5
6 Q. Do you feel that is humane, that they have about the size
7 of an A4 sheet of paper each? Do you feel that is humane?
8 A. Well, in my opinion they do not appear to be under any
9 stress at that time. It is, I think that -- is that what
10 you mean by humane? I do not understand the terminology,
11 really.
12
13 Q. What does McDonald's mean when it says that the rearing
14 conditions are humane?
15 A. I think you have to look at several areas. Obviously
16 the Farm Animal Welfare Council are obviously a lot -- a
17 body that is obviously heavily involved in these side of
18 things and they make certain recommendations. There are
19 codes of practices as well. I think you have to look at
20 all those things.
21
22 Q. So, you would expect that your suppliers be complying with
23 the codes of practice; is that what you are saying?
24 A. Yes, that is right.
25
26 Q. Would you discontinue supplies from them if they were not?
27 A. It would not be my decision, but if they were I would
28 expect that to happen, yes.
29
30 Q. Have you ever made enquiries about whether they are
31 complying with the codes of practice?
32 A. Yes.
33
34 Q. What kind of enquiries are they that you have made?
35 A. Well, I think you have had Dr. Mark Pattison in. We
36 speak very regularly with Dr. Pattison, whether it is in
37 our office, whether it is in his office, whether it is at
38 other meetings, at other venues we have; he has actually
39 lectured to the European, McDonald's European Quality
40 Assurance Department on animal welfare issues. There is
41 plenty of opportunity to discuss these things.
42
43 Q. He has told you, has he, that they are complying with the
44 codes of practice?
45 A. Are you referring to any particular areas of that?
46
47 Q. For example, with stocking density?
48 A. I am aware of the stocking density at Sun Valley.
49
50 Q. So, you would be aware, then, that it is over the
51 recommended -- over that recommended in the codes of
52 practice?
53 A. This has been discussed with Sun Valley, and it is my
54 understanding -- and fortunately enough we have a company
55 and in Dr. Pattison, a person who is actually involved with
56 the writing of those codes of practices -- and it is my
57 understanding that the stocking density is meant to relate
58 to average chicken houses under adverse conditions; and
59 under those conditions Sun Valley do comply to those codes
60 of practices.
