Day 286 - 24 Oct 96 - Page 08

     
     1        round places like San Miguel do Araguais, Poringatu, and
     2        Minacu, which I think are the three most northerly ones,
     3        and then Mara Rosa and so on.
     4
     5   MR. MORRIS:   Yes.  And there was Novo Mundo mentioned by --
     6
     7   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I am only just reading four out as an
     8        example.
     9
    10   MR. MORRIS:   Yes, I actually never had the chance to identify
    11        them.  I think it was about ninety places.
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have about 27 circles there.
    14
    15   MR. MORRIS:   Right.
    16
    17   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   The two, I think you were including the ones
    18        over near the western border.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  In terms of supply sources, not only have
         we got the areas identified as collection points - which is
    22        the word used by McDonald's - for raw materials to be taken
    23        to slaughter houses, we also have the fact that our
    24        witnesses, our experts have identified -- and also
    25        Lord Vestey recognises -- that there is a whole process of
    26        fattening up of cattle, bringing them in from, presumably,
    27        areas where there is poorer quality grassland.  And we know
    28        that cleared forest generally is poor quality grassland,
    29        and, for that reason, or main reason, cattle are
    30        transferred nearer to slaughter houses.  And Sue Branford
    31        and Professor Susannah Hecht explain how cattle will be
    32        fattened up near Goiana, brought in from ex-rainforest
    33        areas.  Lord Vestey showed how that happened in the central
    34        plains as well.
    35
    36        I think, and my memory might be playing tricks with me, but
    37        I think, I can't remember, Mr. Cesca was reluctant to
    38        recognize this process.  I can't remember exactly what he
    39        said about it.
    40
    MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well, there may be two points here.  The
    42        first is whether it happens at all, and the second is
    43        whether, if it does happen at all, any of McDonald's beef
    44        comes from cattle which is moved in that way.  If the
    45        answer to the first were yes but the answer to the second
    46        were no, then I could see you would say oh well, it is
    47        still all part of the effect of the beef industry, but it
    48        might be that less direct approach.
    49
    50        That is an issue which I may well have to resolve on the 
    51        balance of probabilities as to the extent to which, if at 
    52        all, beef cattle are moved any substantial distance to be 
    53        fattened up.  And then secondly, whether, if that does
    54        happen at all, McDonald's take any of those cattle or
    55        McDonald's suppliers do.  Then, having answered those
    56        questions to my own satisfaction, see where it takes me in
    57        the context of this case.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:   Yes.  I think specifically Lord Vestey certainly
    60        recognised that ninety percent of the beef that he would