Our focus has been on inspecting the welfare-problems of cattle transported on double-deckers. We therefore stopped by the Verhagen cattle collecting station where we were told many cattle are exported from. When we arrived, pregnant heifers were being loaded onto a double-deck truck from the Spanish company Maitxene. The cows were destined for Spain. The owner welcomed us … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Verhagen cattle collecting station
Our inspections
Unannounced visit to Pali cattle collecting station in Belgium
The transport of cattle on double-deck trucks remains a problem with many cattle not having enough space above their backs. We have observed these transport problems at cattle slaughterhouses and public cattle-markets. Today we decided to also check if these problems exist at small, private cattle-collecting stations. We dropped by Pali collecting station. Despite coming … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Pali cattle collecting station in Belgium
Observation of cattle transports Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg
Eyes on Animals received several complaints from people within the transport sector concerning Vion in Tilburg. They claim that double-deck trucks not providing enough headroom for cattle were being regularly accepted causing unfair competition for companies that were trying to respect the "10cm above the withers" regulation. In the morning we observed 7 double-deck cattle … [Read more...] about Observation of cattle transports Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg
Fire codes for animal farms same as for warehouses storing toilet-paper
Photo: Jack Tummers (www.jacktummers.nl) Since 2006 over 1 million animals in the Netherlands have fallen victim to barn fires (exact number is 1,142,083). Barns fall under the same jurisdiction as "light industry" and thus are not equiped with sprinkler systems nor have to follow strict regulations regarding type of building material used or safe housing of electric … [Read more...] about Fire codes for animal farms same as for warehouses storing toilet-paper
Adequate headspace finally for cattle being transported to Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg
On the 5th of September 2010, Eyes on Animals discretely observed cattle trucks arriving at VION slaughterhouse in Tilburg. We saw a number of double-decker transport trucks in which the cattle had insufficient headspace. As a result, the cattle were not able to maintain their natural posture, which could in turn cause serious injury to head and back. At the time, we … [Read more...] about Adequate headspace finally for cattle being transported to Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg