Day 200 - 12 Dec 95 - Page 09

     
     1        A.  Some of them were small, in one particular -- but it
     2        does not alter the fact that it could not stand up even if
     3        it wanted to feed.  No wonder they were small.
     4
     5   Q.   You know that undersized birds, runts, often have problems
     6        getting enough food to eat, do you not?
     7        A.  When they cannot walk to get the food they probably
     8        would, yes.
     9
    10   Q.   And that the cause of their difficulties may be the very
    11        fact they are undersized which leads to deformity?
    12        A.  Well .....
    13
    14   Q.   Do you know that?
    15        A.  Do I know what?
    16
    17   Q.   Do you know whether that is right or not?
    18        A.  That -- I would not know.
    19
    20   Q.   They have problems digesting food?
         A.  I do not know that.
    22
    23   Q.   Do you also know that the birds in the shed are culled on a
    24        regular basis?
    25        A.  I did not.  I do not know that but, obviously, these
    26        birds had been there for sometime.
    27
    28   Q.   Why do you say that?
    29        A.  Because these conditions would not happen overnight,
    30        with those grotesque legs protruding from all angles.  That
    31        would not happen overnight.  If they were culled often,
    32        then those would have been culled before those deformities
    33        arose.
    34
    35   Q.   I know you told us you worked as a Kennel Maid for the
    36        RSPCA and in that time saw chickens.  Do you have any
    37        experience in broiler chicken farming?
    38        A.  No, I do not.
    39
    40                    Re-examined by the Defendants
    41
    42   MS. STEEL:  If it was the case that MAFF did not prosecute the
    43        farmer for these chickens, does that make you feel that
    44        everything that you saw was OK?
    45        A.  Not at all.  I know what I saw.  The fact is there were
    46        so many birds there and it is such a common occurrence with
    47        birds to have these grotesque hip and leg deformities, that
    48        birds put on a maximum amount of weight, therefore, they
    49        have these displacements, the hip joints go and the leg
    50        deformities arise.  I believe MAFF did not prosecute 
    51        because if they prosecuted this particular farm, they would 
    52        have to prosecute every broiler farm in the country and it 
    53        is a massive problem.
    54
    55   MS. STEEL: I have no further questions.
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Thank you, Miss Watkins.
    58
    59                            (The witness withdrew)
    60