market

Eyes on Animals would like to congratulate the managers of this cattle market, which has gone from a market with serious welfare problems in 2005 to one of the "best" we have inspected. Since our last visit in 2009, they have installed more water troughs and built individual pens for bulls. There was also no violent handling of the animals today. We did question why some … [Read more...] about Inspection of Leeuwarden cattle market

Eyes on Animals inspected Ciney market today, one of the largest markets left in Europe. Today there were 2500 cattle and several equines for sale. Positive aspects were the presence of water troughs in every loading bay, the fact that the animals were tied on properly (not around their horns or neck as is often the case at other markets) and that we did not observe any … [Read more...] about Inspection of a livestock market in Belgium

Eyes on Animals appreciates the open-door policy that the Dutch pig assembly station "ANIMO" has towards us. We visited, as usual unannounced, this collecting station today to observe the loading of culled-sows for slaughter in Germany and Belgium. These animals appear rather miserable after a life of reproduction, cramped housing, and genetics that favour growth and large … [Read more...] about Cooling off of culled sows at ANIMO pig assembly and export station in the Netherlands

Eyes on Animals inspectors inspected a private weekly livestock market near Brugge in Belgium. Today 78 "slaughter" horses were for sale. Together with the director we checked on the condition of the horses. All animals were in very good shape. The floor of the market was recently redone so that it is now non-slip, reducing the chances of animals falling and hurting … [Read more...] about Inspection of a “slaughter” horse market in Belgium

Eyes on Animals visited the new cattle market in Purmerend. Present were approximately 65 culled "dairy" cows (culled means that they were selected, for various reasons, to leave the farm and go for slaughter), a young bull and a steer. Although Eyes on Animals does not promote markets and believes the that the journey to slaughter should be as direct as possible, we were … [Read more...] about Inspection of the new cattle market in Purmerend, NL

Eyes on Animals inspectors made an unannounced visit to the famous cull-cow market in Leeuwarden where three years ago downer cattle were being regularly delivered and dragged onto trucks using chains. Eyes on Animals was relieved to see that the improvements the market managers made since, are all still in place and that they have even built a water system. Every cow … [Read more...] about Inspection of welfare conditions for cull-cows sold at Leeuwarden market in NL

Eyes on Animals discreetly observes a pig assembly station in Benelux. Two downer pigs ( a downer is an animal that is so injured or weak that he is she can no longer walk) are delivered by truck. Both are mistreated- the one is dragged out by her ear and the other is left all night outside on bare concrete despite the cold temperature. Both Anna and Lite are sadly found … [Read more...] about Mistreatment of injured pigs at assembly station in Belgium