farm

Eyes on Animals was invited by Joost Slingenbergh and Suzan Houtepen to come and watch the arrival and unloading of 4050 young organic laying hens in Weeze, just across the Dutch border in Germany. This location is rented; they own a second location in Siebengewald in the Netherlands with 11.700 biodynamic laying hens. The chickens (Lohmans) came from Lunteren and … [Read more...] about Unloading of young organic laying hens, DE

Today we went to the Dutch province of Drenthe, where we paid a visit to Hans and Anita Marskamp, who keep free-range pigs. Or rather, as they would say it themselves, look after pigs. It’s a small-scale farm. A number of pigs are bought as piglets and then fattened. Not up to a certain age, but until they have reached a certain weight, between 80 and 100 kg. The pigs are … [Read more...] about Work visit to free-range pig farm at Country Smile, NL

On Friday while driving on the A2 in the Netherlands, an EonA inspector got stuck in major traffic. The highway was closed due to a massive fire that broke out on a pig factory located right beside the highway. Due to asbestos being released in the air, no one was allowed to get close. The following day Eyes on Animals visited the premise. We heard that 1300 … [Read more...] about Witness of a pig barn fire

Eyes on Animals inspectors visited an organic "egg"  farm today. The purpose was to discuss with the farmer what welfare concerns he had for the way chickens are caught, loaded and transported to slaughter. At the moment, hens and broilers raised on organic farms are still caught and transported in the same manner as hens and broilers raised in the conventional … [Read more...] about Visit of an organic egg farm in the Netherlands

A while back Eyes on Animals paid a visit to a group-housing pig farm Den Elshorst. The owner of this small-scale facility is trying to make a living trough combining farming with tourism. The young farmer has worked with pigs his whole life and hopes his children will, one day, take over his small-scale pig farm. Having spent time working out the facts and figures this … [Read more...] about Visit at den Elshorst free-range pig farm , NL

An anonymous complaint came in over our website concerning a pig farm where there was a concern about the welfare of the animals (left in dark conditions, in small metal crates). As with all of the complaints we receive, we try to investigate them and find a solution together with the person in question. If we don´t have any luck or are not received in a welcoming way, we … [Read more...] about Inspection of a pig farm

Today Eyes on Animals visited a dairy farm in the province Limburg. This family business houses 150 milk cows (Holsteins) and 135 calves. Annually, each milk cow gives approximately 9000 litres of milk. At the age of 14 months, the cows are inseminated for the first time. The cows are thus two years old when they give birth to their first calf. The calf is allowed to stay … [Read more...] about Visit of a standard dairy farm in Limburg, the Netherlands

Today Eyes on Animals visited a Demeter dairy farm in Achterveld, The Netherlands. This farm is participating in the Louis Bolks´and Wageningen UR Livestock Researchs´ project "Familiekudde" (Family herd). This is a new dairy farm management system whereby the calves are kept with their mothers. For more information about this research project, you can read the report … [Read more...] about Visit of a Demeter dairy farm in the Netherlands

Today inspectors from Eyes on Animals visited a standard (factory) pig farm in Brabant. There were 310 breeding sows and 2400 'slaughter´ pigs. After 5 farrowings, the breeding sows are culled and sent for slaughter as well. One week before farrowing the sows are placed into farrowing crates, where they remain until 4 weeks after giving birth. The piglets are then removed … [Read more...] about Announced visit of a standard pig farm in Brabant,Holland