Today Eyes on Animals was in Germany checking on Dutch and German pigs arriving by truck at Simon slaughterhouse in Wittlich. We were working with the German NGO Animal Welfare Foundation. It was bloody hot and humid out. We wanted to see if Simon abattoir had infrastructure in place so that pig trucks arriving could immediately park in the shade and be cooled down. … [Read more...] about Heat-stress inspections of Dutch and German pig trucks arriving at Simon abattoir in Germany
Our inspections
Heat stress inspection at Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond (NL)
Today (31°C in the shade, 35°C in the sun), we visited Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond. Although the afternoon shift was canceled due to the heat, which is a positive step, it remained very busy until at least 4:00 PM. There were as many as nine trucks, loaded with pigs, waiting under the canopy. Waiting times extended to an hour or more. Even though no pigs were … [Read more...] about Heat stress inspection at Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond (NL)
Inspection on a hot day at Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Today, Eyes on Animals was on the road again due to the extreme heat. In the afternoon, around 1:30 PM, we visited VION in Boxtel to check if, like the previous week, there were any stationary pig trucks waiting along the public road in the sun. Fortunately, this was not the case. There were also no trucks parked under the canopy. During our visit, one … [Read more...] about Inspection on a hot day at Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Inspection of welfare of pigs waiting at Vion abattoir in Boxtel, NL
It is hot and humid out so EonA was in the field to check on pigs arriving at Vion in Boxtel. The good news is that the canopy Vion built around six years ago is continually improving. They've added another screen to block the sun's rays on the other side, as well as set up extra fans and water-misters. They've also set up a large digital billboard to remind the … [Read more...] about Inspection of welfare of pigs waiting at Vion abattoir in Boxtel, NL
USAID accompanies us on a follow-up inspection of Kumasi abattoir, Ghana
The WACPAW/EonA team returned to Kumasi abattoir again. Kumasi abattoir is a very large cattle, pig and goat abattoir in Ghana with on-going serious welfare problems. We trained the use of captive bolt stunners there several years ago, and have stunning implemented for the pigs, where they used to be clubbed repeatedly on their heads, but still downers are dragged, … [Read more...] about USAID accompanies us on a follow-up inspection of Kumasi abattoir, Ghana