In December 2024, Eyes on Animals carried out an unannounced visit to Beck slaughterhouse in Kupferzell, Germany. Beck specializes in the slaughter of piglets. At the time of our visit, no one was available to speak with us, so we followed up by email to request a meeting.
In their response, Beck indicated that they are currently not interested in engaging in a dialogue on animal welfare. The company stated that they are already subject to inspections by veterinarians and external auditors. However, they did express interest in receiving our report containing practical tips for improving animal welfare at slaughterhouses. We have since sent the report by email.
Eyes on Animals visited Beck because our fieldwork shows that the transport and slaughter of piglets present significant challenges — while relatively small changes can already make a big difference. Piglets are particularly vulnerable due to their young age and sometimes painful health conditions. In addition, they are still frequently stunned manually using electric tongs. Given their size and agility, applying the tongs correctly can be difficult and poses serious risks to animal welfare.
We hope that Beck will be open to a conversation in the future. We firmly believe that constructive dialogue can help advance animal welfare — even in facilities that already operate under official supervision.
