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| Eyes on Animals inspectors paid an unannounced visit to the cull-cow market in Leeuwarden early this morning. Like at the announced visit in June last year, the market made a positive impression. To our positive surprise, the number of pens in which the animals are housed loosely was expanded. The market is working towards accommodating more cows like this in the near future, as we suggested in our previous reports to them. We hope that at some point, all cows can be loosely penned at the market. As regards to the cows that were still tied, a substantial improvement has been implemented: chains on which the halters can be tethered are now welded onto the railings. The chain are all a standard length and fixed, in this way it cannot occur that a cow is tied on too short or too long and significantly helps avoid the problem that cows get entangled with eachother. | |
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| The floor of the market was covered in a thick layer of straw so that there was limited risk of slipping and it’s more pleasant for the animals to stand and lie on. All cows had access to water on the market. At this cattle market mainly culled cows of the Holstein breed are sold and head after the market for slaughter. Holsteins have been so highly selected for large milk yields that they are culled after just a short life span of 4-5 years. With all their energy going into producing an unnaturally large amount of milk everday, they are prone to mastitis, leg injuries, arthritis and weakness. Fortunately there were however no seriously ill or injured cows present. | |
| We are pleased that this cattle market is yet again making a good impression and that animal welfare improvements remain on their agenda. We once again thank the market managers for the constructive collaboration. | |
