For years, Irish calves are bought by Dutch producers that raise them for veal, a by-product of the Irish dairy industry. The Irish dairy industry is so massive (94% of Irish dairy is exported!) that they are happy that they can get rid of some of their unwanted calves. Dutch Van Drie is the main producer of veal meat, and almost runs a monopoly on this trade. However, … [Read more...] about Billionaire Van Drie veal company being brought to court
farm
Installing perches at poultry farms in Ghana
Last year we gave training courses on how to improve poultry welfare on local farms and during catching in Sunyani, Ghana. We realized that none of the pens had perches. Together with the farmers, WACPAW/EonA organized the construction of 40 perching facilities and this week we placed them all into the aviaries! The team was also pleased with the level of improvements … [Read more...] about Installing perches at poultry farms in Ghana
Meeting with pioneer farmer and founder of Calf at Foot Dairy in the UK
While in Birmingham to give a talk at the Humane Slaughter conference, EonA took the opportunity to meet with Fiona Provan at her farm nearby. Fiona is a real pioneer farmer and 12 years ago started and trademarketed her "Calf at Foot Dairy" methods. These are methods she believes in and has set up for other farmers to join with the same principles. Calf at Foot Dairy … [Read more...] about Meeting with pioneer farmer and founder of Calf at Foot Dairy in the UK
Visit to unique dairy farm producing for Harmony Organics, Canada
Recently Lesley from Eyes on Animals was visiting her parents in Canada for the summer holidays and had the chance to visit a dairy farmer there that was doing things differently. He founded Harmony Organics. Lesley had heard of him from a TV show called La Semaine Verte on CBC and thus knew he and his wife were farming with compassion and showed reciprocity to their … [Read more...] about Visit to unique dairy farm producing for Harmony Organics, Canada
A better life for pigs on small farm in Uganda
Positive news from Uganda! The Vegan Village NGO in Uganda, together with some help from Eyes on Animals, have built a much nicer pen for a lonely pig and found him a friend. This pig was kept all alone in a small wooden pen with a solid floor and no roof. No space to walk and no earth on the ground to root or wallow in which are extremely important behaviours for pigs to … [Read more...] about A better life for pigs on small farm in Uganda
EonA meets with Denkavit to discuss L214’s exposure of mistreatment of calves at their testing station in France
Today we met with the managers of Denkavit’s headquarters in the Netherlands. Denkavit is a large Dutch company working internationally and producing white veal and feed for veal calves. The reason we asked for a meeting is that we had seen footage taken by the French NGO L214 showing very rough and disrespectful treatment of young calves at one of their feed-testing … [Read more...] about EonA meets with Denkavit to discuss L214’s exposure of mistreatment of calves at their testing station in France
Visit to Papen-Olbach goat farm, where they are experimenting with different floor levels in their barn for goats to climb and rest
Today we visited the dairy goat farm Papen-Olbach in Vragender (NL). Traditionally, goats are kept in straw barns with just one floor level. But goats are climbers, and like to rest in a safe high place. They also prefer hard surfaces. With this in mind, Mattijn Papen-Olbach started looking at a new way to house his goats. What … [Read more...] about Visit to Papen-Olbach goat farm, where they are experimenting with different floor levels in their barn for goats to climb and rest
Meeting with Ministry, VIN and Brandt & Levie about pig castration
Today Eyes on Animals met with representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, sausage company Brandt & Levie, Varkens in Nood (Pigs in Peril) and organic pig farmer Kees Scheepens to discuss how we can help the organic pig sector find a path towards a future where castration is phased out. Kees Scheepens and one other Dutch organic pig farmer, Gideon … [Read more...] about Meeting with Ministry, VIN and Brandt & Levie about pig castration
Visit to poultry farmer to speak about upright catching of his birds
Today Eyes on Animals visited a poultry farmer in Groningen to talk about catching methods for chickens. He wanted to know more about the upright catching method and what exactly this would mean to him in practice. Because of the prevailing bird flu, we were not able to enter the poultry shed, however we were able to look in through the windows. The sheds and chickens … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry farmer to speak about upright catching of his birds
Visit to Ridammerhoeve goat farm where kids are kept with mothers
Today Eyes on Animals dropped by Ridammerhoeve Demeter goat farm in Amsterdam Bos. Here a lot of attention and respect is given to the behavioural needs and well-being of the adult dairy goats as well as the goat kids. What rooting and wallowing are to pigs, is climbing to goats, and here at the Riddammerhoeve farm the goats have plenty of high climbing platforms, both … [Read more...] about Visit to Ridammerhoeve goat farm where kids are kept with mothers
