On the advice of Eyes on Animals, misting systems have been installed on one side of the canopy covered waiting area for the waiting pig trucks at VION in Boxtel. Large fans now blow mist over and through the trucks. The misting system, in combination with large fans to prevent excessive humidity, makes it much more comfortable for the pigs under the canopy. It is … [Read more...] about Misting under the canopy at VION in Boxtel
News
Tomassen Duck-To no interest in improving catching method for ducks
When ducks are taken to slaughter, they are grabbed and lifted by their heads/necks, several at a time and thrown into the drawers of transport-modules. This practice was filmed a few years ago by an undercover employee of the organization ‘Animal Rights’. Eyes on Animals despises the brutal way ducks are caught and loaded, and this cruel practice continues today. We are … [Read more...] about Tomassen Duck-To no interest in improving catching method for ducks
Thumbs up to Van Loon’s decision last year
Thumbs up to Van Loon’s decision last year to offer a market to a Dutch organic pig farm (father and son) that wanted to stop castrating their organic piglets. Van Loon purchases, for a fair price, their intact boars and processes them through their Best Star Meat selection (the better-welfare label from Van Loon). We greatly applaud Best Star Meats from Van Loon for … [Read more...] about Thumbs up to Van Loon’s decision last year
EonA invited to talk at NVWA Animal Conference (NL)
The NVWA (Dutch government body in charge of enforcing animal-welfare law) invited Eyes on Animals to their Animal Conference today. 160 official animal-welfare inspectors were present. We gave 3 workshop sessions and then participated in a panel discussion. We brought up topics that we think need to be given more attention by the nvwa, gave illustrations of positive … [Read more...] about EonA invited to talk at NVWA Animal Conference (NL)
Spreading better practices to French pig abattoirs
Today we were visited by 4 French managers of a large pork company which has 3 slaughterhouses in France, one of which uses electric stunning. They visited us in order to see the improvements we made at a large Dutch pig abattoir and see if they could put some of the better practices in place in their own abattoirs. We started with a short introduction, presented a film … [Read more...] about Spreading better practices to French pig abattoirs
Another step forward at Tamale abattoir, Ghana
WACPAW and EonA have been busy trying to reduce some of the horrific suffering at the slaughterhouse in Tamale, Ghana. Here cattle too weak or injured to walk are dragged into the slaughterhouse by a rope tied around their neck. Broken pelvis, broken leg... it does not matter. We have built trolleys and the board of the abattoir is willing to use them - soon downer animals … [Read more...] about Another step forward at Tamale abattoir, Ghana
Leeuwarden (NL) animal market has good facilities
Eyes on Animals is not a fan of livestock markets, as this stopover adds to the stress of animals in transit from farm to slaughter. However, we must admit that Leeuwarden animal market has at least invested in very good facilities, much better than other markets we have inspected. All animals are loosely housed in pens and never tethered. The entire floor is covered in … [Read more...] about Leeuwarden (NL) animal market has good facilities
Inadequate stunning with the manual electric stunner ‘Le Rêve’
The manual electric stunner ‘Le Rêve’ does not cause immediate loss of consciousness, without causing pain, as required by Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The voltage of the stunning device (90V) is far too low, resulting in the mandatory amperage (for head stunning chickens this is 240mA) only to be reached after a few seconds. As a result, the birds are exposed to … [Read more...] about Inadequate stunning with the manual electric stunner ‘Le Rêve’
No concrete improvements by VanDrie and Pali to end illegal calf-import from Ireland
In March 2022 Eyes on Animals (EonA) met with two big importers of unweaned Irish calves (2-3 weeks old): VanDrie Group and Pali Group. EonA initiated this meeting as the import of unweaned calves from Ireland involves serious violations of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. The feeding intervals for calves on this route are not respected, meaning that calves (at this … [Read more...] about No concrete improvements by VanDrie and Pali to end illegal calf-import from Ireland
Eyes on Animals resigns from the Poultry Catching Steering Group
Eyes on Animals has decided to leave the Poultry Catching Steering Group. The industry stakeholders within the steering group (a.o. NVPSB, Nepluvi and LTO) are not committed to switch to a catching and loading method which holds birds in an upright, natural position. Even though scientific studies, the EFSA recommendations and a court decision, all conclude that birds … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals resigns from the Poultry Catching Steering Group
