This week Eyes on Animals spent 5 days at a dairy farm in northern Germany that keeps the calves for at least 3 months with their mothers in the herd. It is one of 5 dairy farms in between Hamburg and Flensburg that produces milk for a new label called ElternZeit, which means “ Parent Time”. These dairy farms do not see new-born calves as an unwanted by-product, but … [Read more...] about Work at a German dairy farm that produces milk for Eltern Zeit label (keep the calves with their mothers in the herd)
Our inspections
Meeting with Anoxia
On September 3rd, Eyes on Animals visited Anoxia, a company that has developed a method for farmers to euthanize animals on site in a way that does justice to animals and humans. This euthanizing happens to (mostly young) animals that are too weak or too sick to survive. We received an extensive presentation about the use of … [Read more...] about Meeting with Anoxia
Meeting with ZonVarken about reducing stress during transport and slaughter
Today we had a meeting with two representatives from ZonVarken. ZonVarken is an innovative pig farming concept focusing on animal welfare, the environment (including climate change), the farmer, and the local community. We were impressed with their innovative approach focusing on the pigs welfare and natural behaviour from birth to … [Read more...] about Meeting with ZonVarken about reducing stress during transport and slaughter
Observations during catching and loading of broilers at Grefte in Zieuwent
Today we observed the catching and loading of broilers at Grefte poultry farm in Zieuwent. Jeroen van den Hurk, poultry sector manager at Rabobank, invited us to join Paul Grefte, owner of an innovative broiler farm. Paul wanted to show us a number of innovations on his farm. In order to reduce heat stress in broilers, they were loaded in the evening and at night. … [Read more...] about Observations during catching and loading of broilers at Grefte in Zieuwent
Visit at VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Today, we paid a surprise visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel. The purpose of this visit was to see what measures had been taken to prevent or reduce heat stress in pigs arriving at the slaughterhouse. Many measures had been taken to lower the temperature for the trucks waiting in front of the slaughterhouse: a canopy provided shade, industrial fans were in place … [Read more...] about Visit at VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel