Thursdays is the famous livestock market day in Tamale, Ghana. Hundreds of cattle, goats and fowl are sold and re-loaded for transport to slaughter. Conditions are loud and brutal and our team has been trying to raise awareness and improve facilities and handling there. This past Thursday the WACPAW/EonA team gave an educational workshop to the Chicken and Guinea Fowl … [Read more...] about WACPAW/EonA training on chicken-welfare given at Tamale market, Ghana
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Inspection of Tamale market, Ghana
The WACPAW/EonA team visited Tamale livestock market in northern Ghana to see how the animals are faring in this time of excruciating drought and heat within the region. At this time of the year, temperatures within the northern part can rise up 45 degrees and most dams are drying up. The market was almost empty because most animals now are too weak and sick because of the … [Read more...] about Inspection of Tamale market, Ghana
Unannounced inspection of Leeuwarden cow market
An EonA team conducted an unannounced visit to Leeuwarden cull-cow market this late afternoon. We have been regularly visiting and trying to work with this market since 2004. Back then we regularly saw tethered cows tangled up in their ropes, downer cows being dragged by chains into small trucks, lactating cows dripping milk and not being milked, injured animals being … [Read more...] about Unannounced inspection of Leeuwarden cow market
Visit to Kempense export-centre in Merksplas (BE)
Today we visited the Kempense export-centre at Merksplas in Belgium, where Irish calves were being held for export to Poland. Eyes on Animals is very critical of the export route that Irish calves undergo to mainland Europe. When exporting/importing Irish calves, the legal feeding intervals during these long journeys are systematically violated. … [Read more...] about Visit to Kempense export-centre in Merksplas (BE)
Inspection horse market Hedel
Eyes on Animals visited the yearly horse market in Hedel this week. We joined the House of Animals’ team, who have been hiring professional bodyguards the last few years, in order to protect our teams against malicious visitors of this horse market. When we arrived around midnight, there were no horses/ponies yet, so we could get a good overview of the layout of … [Read more...] about Inspection horse market Hedel
Inspection on Enniscorthy calf market in Ireland
Today a team from Eyes on Animals and Ethical Farming Ireland, accompanied by Member of European Parliament Anja Hazekamp, visited Enniscorthy calf market, just south of Dublin. Many unweaned calves exported to the Netherlands and Spain and Belgium come from this market. Some of the calves at todays’ market are only 10 days of age. We are told that they will be held back … [Read more...] about Inspection on Enniscorthy calf market in Ireland
Visit to export assembly-center Ketelaars in Heeswijk-Dinther (NL)
Today we paid a visit to Ketelaars assembly-center in Heeswijk-Dinther (NL). This company gathers sows for slaughterhouses domestic and abroad, including VION. The owner made time to talk to us about the new EU guidelines and gave us a short tour of the facility. At the time of our visit only 15 sows were present, confined in a pen without any bedding. … [Read more...] about Visit to export assembly-center Ketelaars in Heeswijk-Dinther (NL)
Visit to export assembly center Van den Boogaart in Veghel
Today, by appointment, we visited the export assembly center Van den Boogaart in Veghel. About 80 sows and several hundred piglets were gathered by PALI Group. The moving and loading of the sows went very well. The sows were not chased but were given the time to walk. In the raceway there were woodchips for a non-skid effect, and to reduce sharp colour contrasts … [Read more...] about Visit to export assembly center Van den Boogaart in Veghel
Some pig assembly centers allow and some do not allow EonA to visit
In recent years Eyes on Animals has visited several assembly centers for sows and piglets in the Netherlands. Sows and piglets are collected from different farms and gathered at these centers to be sent to slaughterhouses abroad. They are sent for slaughter because they are less productive or have (small) abnormalities. For sows it often concerns fertility issues, … [Read more...] about Some pig assembly centers allow and some do not allow EonA to visit
Visit to pig collecting centre in connection with dispute with NVWA (Dutch authorities)
Tonight Eyes on Animals received a call from the owner of a Dutch pig export assembly centre. He was stuck with a big delivery of piglets. The owner told us the pigs were due to be exported to a German slaughterhouse, but the official governmental veterinarians (from the NVWA) left without signing the export certificate, resulting in the piglets having to remain at his … [Read more...] about Visit to pig collecting centre in connection with dispute with NVWA (Dutch authorities)
