transport

Eyes on Animals met with three officials from the VWA, responsible for animal-welfare during transport and at slaughterhouses. The purpose was to discuss our recent reports and photos showing tall cattle on board double-deck lorries with inadequate headspace. We asked that their field-inspectors focus on this problem during their upcoming inspections so that all transport … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals meets with Dutch authorities (VWA) about double-deck cattle trucks where animals do not have enough headspace

Today we dropped by Janssen Neerkant's pig collecting and export centre in Brabant (NL). The purpose of our visit was to take photos of their new 17-meter loading ramp. Because the ramp is so long, the pigs no longer have a steep climb into or out of the truck, even from the fourth floor of the vehicle. Because pigs are bad climbers, this is a very good improvement to … [Read more...] about Visit of Janssen Neerkant pig collecting and export centre

Eyes on Animals inspectors checked on the loading conditions and truck quality of a pig transport destined for a slaughterhouse in the Czech Republic. During a driving break, the chauffeur turned on the water-system and the pigs on the first floor began to drink and appreciate it. However, water was not coming out of the nipples on the second and third floors, leaving the … [Read more...] about Inspection of a Czech truck transporting Dutch “slaughter” pigs to Czech Republik

Our focus has been on inspecting the welfare-problems of cattle transported on double-deckers. We therefore stopped by the Verhagen cattle collecting station where we were told many cattle are exported from. When we arrived, pregnant heifers were being loaded onto a double-deck truck from the Spanish company Maitxene. The cows were destined for Spain. The owner welcomed us … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Verhagen cattle collecting station

The transport of cattle on double-deck trucks remains a problem with many cattle not having enough space above their backs. We have observed these transport problems at cattle slaughterhouses and public cattle-markets. Today we decided to also check if these problems exist at small, private cattle-collecting stations. We dropped by Pali collecting station. Despite coming … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Pali cattle collecting station in Belgium

Eyes on Animals received several complaints from people within the transport sector concerning Vion in Tilburg. They claim that double-deck trucks not providing enough headroom for cattle were being regularly accepted causing unfair competition for companies that were trying to respect the "10cm above the withers" regulation. In the morning we observed 7 double-deck cattle … [Read more...] about Observation of cattle transports Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg

On the 5th of September 2010, Eyes on Animals discretely observed cattle trucks arriving at VION slaughterhouse in Tilburg. We saw a number of double-decker transport trucks in which the cattle had insufficient headspace. As a result, the cattle were not able to maintain their natural posture, which could in turn cause serious injury to head and back. At the time, we … [Read more...] about Adequate headspace finally for cattle being transported to Vion slaughterhouse in Tilburg

We were disappointed to observe three transport companies load cattle from an assembly center onto double-deckers that did not provide enough head-space for the animals. In particular we were disappointed that one of the companies belongs to a quality system that we have faith in. We observed cattle on board Hans Snel, Hoekstra en Zon and J.A.Haan transport trucks where … [Read more...] about Cattle loaded double-deck truck without enough space

During the 35-40 degree hot weather today, Eyes on Animals was checking on the welfare of animals being transported to slaughter or for further fattening. We therefore also dropped by an export collecting center where pigs are grouped and sent for export after being checked by an official Dutch veterinarian hired by the VWA. We were shocked to hear that the VWA had already … [Read more...] about Inspection of a pig collecting station

A concerned passerby of a parked trailer loaded with piglets called Eyes on Animals to ask for some help. She was concerned because the piglets were screaming loudly. When we arrived, we observed many piglets badly fighting eachother; biting eachothers' ears and face. As a consequence, some were covered in bloody scratches. After awhile the chauffeur returned, in a loaded … [Read more...] about Inspection of a trailer loaded with piglets in Udenhout