Today we were welcomed to visit a chicken slaughterhouse in the Netherlands. It is a slaughterhouse that only slaughters broilers (chickens bred for meat-production). When we arrived, some of the broilers in the drawer containers were stored in a dark lairage with electronic fans, the birds appeared calm. CO2 gas is used to stun the chickens. Chickens are stunned in … [Read more...] about visit of a chicken slaughterhouse
slaughterhouses
Visit of a slaughterhouse for “spent” laying hens
The manager of this plant was open to our unnanounced visit and gave us a short tour inside his plant on the spot. We were however not allowed to take photos.Roughly 70,000 "spent" hens are slaughtered and processed in this plant every day. Six trucks loaded with plastic poultry-crates were in the parking lots. The crates were stacked stably but … [Read more...] about Visit of a slaughterhouse for “spent” laying hens
Eyes on Animals witnesses pig farmers’ blockades of slaughterhouses
An Eyes on Animals team was returning to The Netherlands after giving a course to police officers in Belgium on the requirements of the animal protection during transport legislation. The team received a message concerning pig farmers setting up blockades at a number of pig slaughterhouses across the Netherlands, resulting in many trucks loaded with pigs forced to wait in … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals witnesses pig farmers’ blockades of slaughterhouses
Announced tour of Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
After requesting to visit their slaughterhouse, Vion in Boxtel agreed to give Eyes on Animals a tour of their plant where 10,000 pigs are slaughtered each day. Vion uses CO2 gas to render the pigs unconscious before being cut and bled-out. Unconsciousness using CO2 gas is not instantaneous. Scientific studies show that it can take up to 60 seconds (Rodríguez, P.; Dalmau, … [Read more...] about Announced tour of Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Inspection of a Compaxo pig slaughterhouse in the Netherlands
Today we inspected Compaxo, a Dutch pig slaughterhouse, killing 600 pigs per hour. We watched the unloading of several pig trucks and the handling of the animals before and during slaughter. This plant uses electricity to stun the animals, instead of the now common but highly-debated method of CO2 gas. We were told that they were under pressure to switch to CO2 because … [Read more...] about Inspection of a Compaxo pig slaughterhouse in the Netherlands
