Today we visited the new pig barn built for the new concept "Zonvarkens" (sun pigs). This concept was developed by a group of pig farmers. The idea is to raise pigs whereby they have a good quality of life and can express their natural behaviour. They have room to move, access to the outdoors and fresh air, bedding to build nests and forage in, the sows will have a large … [Read more...] about Visit of Zonvarken pig farm in De Heurne, NL
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Visit to goat farm Ter Veen where kids stay with their mothers
Today we visited goat farm Ter Veen in Dorkwerd. At Ter Veen, the goat kids (both male and female) stay with their mothers in the herd for at least 12 weeks after birth. This is unusual because on most dairy goat farms the kids are taken away from the mother after birth, to be kept by themselves, in a plastic container and are fed colostrum through a … [Read more...] about Visit to goat farm Ter Veen where kids stay with their mothers
Work at a German dairy farm that produces milk for Eltern Zeit label (keep the calves with their mothers in the herd)
This week Eyes on Animals spent 5 days at a dairy farm in northern Germany that keeps the calves for at least 3 months with their mothers in the herd. It is one of 5 dairy farms in between Hamburg and Flensburg that produces milk for a new label called ElternZeit, which means “ Parent Time”. These dairy farms do not see new-born calves as an unwanted by-product, but … [Read more...] about Work at a German dairy farm that produces milk for Eltern Zeit label (keep the calves with their mothers in the herd)
Visit to farm ‘t Geertje
Today Eyes on Animals visited the organic farm 't Geertje in Zoeterwoude (The Netherlands). At 't Geertje a variety of animals is kept on a small scale: goats, cattle, chickens, pigs and more. Their meat, eggs and dairy are primarily sold in their own farm shop. A farm like 't Geertje, where the animals can walk around on straw and go outside, is not common. What makes … [Read more...] about Visit to farm ‘t Geertje
Visit to dairy goat farm Papen-Olbach
Today we visited dairy goat farm Papen-Olbach in Vragender (NL) to talk about the welfare of billy goats. Although our visit was unannounced, the goat farmer took ample time to exchange ideas with us. He explained to us that animal welfare is very important to them. For several years now their milk goats get to go outside when the weather is good. This wasn’t a natural … [Read more...] about Visit to dairy goat farm Papen-Olbach
