Today we visited the VION slaughterhouse in Boxtel to see how the slaughterhouse and transport companies were responding to the extreme heat. VION had implemented several measures to reduce heat stress. Around 9,500 pigs were slaughtered today instead of the usual 16,000, allowing all pigs to arrive before 12:00. This prevented transport during temperatures above 35°C, … [Read more...] about Visit to VION slaughterhouse in Boxtel during Code Red
slaughterhouses
Visit to Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond during tropical temperatures
On 25 June, we visited the Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond (NL) during a period of extreme heat. We wanted to see what measures had been taken to reduce heat stress and how long pigs had to remain in the trucks before they could be unloaded. Canopy with misting systems and ventilation provides cooling Van Rooi has a large canopy where livestock trucks wait … [Read more...] about Visit to Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond during tropical temperatures
Heat stress inspection at a large slaughterhouse
Yesterday, we were in the field monitoring how pigs were coping with the extreme heat during transport. At one large Dutch slaughterhouse, we observed four trucks carrying pigs waiting to unload. One truck was parked in direct sunlight. When our team arrived, the driver left the parking area and began driving around to create airflow for the pigs. Another driver whom we … [Read more...] about Heat stress inspection at a large slaughterhouse
Introducing a major German retailer to a practical and more humane alternative to CO₂ stunning
Today we hosted the animal welfare manager of a large German supermarket chain, together with a veterinarian from the Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V., for a visit to a large pig slaughterhouse where pigs are automatically stunned using electricity instead of the highly aversive CO₂ gas. Pigs exposed to CO₂ experience 15–30 seconds of intense panic and pain before losing … [Read more...] about Introducing a major German retailer to a practical and more humane alternative to CO₂ stunning
Eyes on Animals gives talk at Indonesian and Malaysian conference on Halal Slaughter & Welfare
A conference organized by universities in Indonesia and Malaysia took place today, with Eyes on Animals representatives Asalet and Lesley as guest speakers. Our two talks focused on animal-welfare concerns during non-stun slaughter of cattle, sheep, and goats, based on our work in Turkey and other Islamic countries over the past 15 years and Asalet spoke about the verses … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals gives talk at Indonesian and Malaysian conference on Halal Slaughter & Welfare
10-day field mission to Mongolia – improving slaughter practices and transport
Eyes on Animals conducted a field mission to Mongolia following an invitation from a Cambridge University researcher working in the country on animal and meat-related issues. As part of this visit, we were also a special guest speaker at a big conference in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where we shared insights on slaughter practices and animal welfare. The aim of the mission … [Read more...] about 10-day field mission to Mongolia – improving slaughter practices and transport
Follow-up visit to a second cattle slaughterhouse in Tekirdağ region: temporarily reducing extreme suffering of downer cows
During a recent unannounced follow-up visit by Eyes on Animals to another cattle slaughterhouse in the Tekirdağ region of Turkey, we again encountered multiple downer dairy cows—animals arriving unable to stand or walk. The cows showed clear signs of severe distress, including rapid breathing, trembling, and shock. Such animals are already badly injured or sick at … [Read more...] about Follow-up visit to a second cattle slaughterhouse in Tekirdağ region: temporarily reducing extreme suffering of downer cows
Award of Humane Progress to cattle slaughterhouse in Tekirdag region, Turkey
Today we presented the very first Jan Voordouw Award for Humane Progress. It went to a slaughterman in Turkey that was one of the first few in the country to accept and learn from us how to stun cattle with a captive-bolt stunner. This moment feels especially meaningful now, as Jan Voordouw sadly passed away last year from cancer. Jan was a humane butcher from the … [Read more...] about Award of Humane Progress to cattle slaughterhouse in Tekirdag region, Turkey
Follow-up check on Çorlu cattle slaughterhouse, Turkey
The slaughterhouse in Çorlu (Turkey) was the first one that was interested in improving animal welfare and was ready to stun cattle at their plant. We bought a really good pneumatic stunner from the company EFA and installed it about 8 years ago for them. The workers learned how to use it. Joanne McArthur from WeAnimals was with us to document this breakthrough. Sadly … [Read more...] about Follow-up check on Çorlu cattle slaughterhouse, Turkey
Eyes on Animals facilitates meeting between Brazilian and Canadian welfare experts and the Dutch poultry industry
On October 22, Eyes on Animals organized a visit for two leading international welfare experts — Victor Lima from Brazil and Michelle Jendral from Canada — to manufacturer of poultry trucks Ravenhorst and to ESBRO, one of the largest poultry slaughterhouses in the Netherlands. The purpose of this visit was to jointly explore practical improvements in poultry welfare. … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals facilitates meeting between Brazilian and Canadian welfare experts and the Dutch poultry industry
