Eyes on Animals inspectors met with Veetrans. Veetrans is a quality assurance program set up for livestock transport companies to join that agree to abide by stricter animal welfare rules during transport. Eyes on Animals commends the people behind Veetrans for taking this initiative and is an example of industry itself trying to make improvements. Many companies are still … [Read more...] about Meeting with Veetrans
Our inspections
Visit of a Dutch pig slaughterhouse
Eyes on Animals observed the handling and slaughtering of pigs at Slachterij Boom in Erp, a medium-sized pig slaughterhouse in southern Holland. This is the first slaughterhouse where, during our unannounced visit, we did not observe any sick or injured pigs, or rough handling. However, the kill floor was full of blood as they hang and cut the stunned pigs directly above, … [Read more...] about Visit of a Dutch pig slaughterhouse
Visit of an organical pig farm in the Netherlands
Eyes on Animals visited an organic pig farm where pigs, including mother sows and their young, are housed in large outdoor shacks and given plenty of access to the outdoors to perform much desired natural behaviours, such as rooting, mud bathing, sunbathing, and nest building. The farmer was a lovely Dutch man who had seen this sytem while working in England and found the … [Read more...] about Visit of an organical pig farm in the Netherlands
Inspection of a livestock truck with new-born chicks
One of the surviving chicks, roughly a dozen died from the accident. While parked at a highway rest stop, Eyes on Animals investigators spot a truck with new-born "broiler" chicks loaded in cages. There are a dozen dead chicks and the cages are not stacked up properly but appear to have fallen. The driver explains to us that he forgot to attach a belt around … [Read more...] about Inspection of a livestock truck with new-born chicks
Follow-up inspection of three donkeys kept in undesirable living conditions
Eyes on Animals volunteer conducted a follow-up visit to the donkeys we inspected on February 9th. Despite the owner telling us back then that they would make a couple small improvements (removing the dividers between each pen, allowing the donkeys to better socialize and have more room), nothing had changed. All three donkeys were in the same housing environment as last … [Read more...] about Follow-up inspection of three donkeys kept in undesirable living conditions
Investigation into why so many piglets die every year
Eyes on Animals investigated into why there are so many piglets that die every year. We spoke to the rendering company about the extremely high figures. There are several explanations- stress (of the piglet but also of the confined nursing sows), bacterial infections from unhygenic conditions, and not enough nipples to provide for each piglet. Due to genetic selection … [Read more...] about Investigation into why so many piglets die every year
Checking on new- born lambs in the Netherlands
On our way to an investigation we came across a small flock of sheep in a field, with several new-born lambs of just a few days of age. The farmer greeted us and spoke about his sheep with admiration. They had an indoor area and a large outdoor field. One could tell that the animals were well-treated because they did not show any fright towards the farmer, if anything they … [Read more...] about Checking on new- born lambs in the Netherlands
Inspection of a Dutch slaughterhouse
Eyes on Animals inspected Thomassen Slachthuis in Someren, a medium-sized Dutch slaughterhouse which slaughters cattle and pigs. Upon arriving, cattle from Belgium were being unloaded. They were all fit for transport. As in all slaughterhouses we have visited so far, there was again a pen devoted to placing sick animals. Inside was a lone pig, paralyzed from her waist … [Read more...] about Inspection of a Dutch slaughterhouse
Inspection of a “slaughter” horse market in Belgium
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
Inspection of the welfare of hens at a free-range farm in Belgium
There is a big debate whether hens on free-range farms are really better off than hens in cages. Many people within the egg industry, and even a few scientists, claim that hens in cages are better because they are protected from predators, from disease, from collecting mud balls on their feet and eventually not being able to walk anymore and from attacks by others in a … [Read more...] about Inspection of the welfare of hens at a free-range farm in Belgium
