{"id":26573,"date":"2018-07-25T02:10:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-25T01:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/visit-to-compaxo-pig-slaughterhouse-in-zevenaar-nl\/"},"modified":"2018-10-04T02:24:52","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T01:24:52","slug":"visit-to-compaxo-pig-slaughterhouse-in-zevenaar-nl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/de\/visit-to-compaxo-pig-slaughterhouse-in-zevenaar-nl\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit to Compaxo pig slaughterhouse in Zevenaar (NL)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we inspected Compaxo, a pig slaughterhouse in Zevenaar. Outside temperatures are 33 degrees Celsius in the shade and 37 degrees Celsius in the sun. Because the temperature is above 27 degrees Celsius the industry\u2019s heat protocol is active.<\/p>\n

We are welcomed by two managers from Compaxo. They explain to us that the arrival of pigs is staggered over the course of the day and that less pigs are being slaughtered, so waiting times are\u00a0 <\/span>kept to a minimum. Their goal is to have all pigs delivered before 13:00 to avoid them being transported during the hottest part of the day. However, if trucks do arrive at the same time they are sent to a nearby parking lot where there is shade, or the driver is asked to keep driving to improve ventilation inside the trucks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While we are talking with the managers and employee comes in to tell us there is an error in the slaughterline. It means the slaughtering can no longer continue and all trucks that arrive have to wait.\u00a0 <\/span>We use this time to visit the lairage and waiting trucks on the parking lot.<\/p>\n

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\"ObservingIn the parking lot we see 4 trucks. All trucks are parked next to trees, so the pigs inside the trucks are provided with some shade. Nevertheless, we see several pigs suffering from heat stress. They are panting and breathing rapidly.<\/p>\n

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\"PigsIn one truck (a modern cross ventilated truck) the pigs are calmer even though the inside temperature is very high (33 degrees). This is probably due to the big powerful fans keeping the humidity levels inside the truck very low.<\/p>\n

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In the unloading area of the slaughterhouse we observe one waiting truck. It cannot unload the pigs, because the lairage is full. <\/b>The pigs inside the truck are extremely stressed, especially the ones behind the driver\u2019s cab (where the engine is). In this compartment the humidity level is over 80% with a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The levels are extremely dangerous. All pigs are panting really fast and one is\u00a0 <\/span>collapsed on the floor breathing really fast. We ask the driver to shut down the engine as it is producing extra heat. The driver does as we ask and the humidity decreases by 10%. But still the levels are too high. We express our concern to the managers of Compaxo and strongly recommend they purchase big industrial fans for the unloading area as soon as possible \u2013 as it is far too humid and warm inside (31 degrees Celsius and humidity level of 62%). The managers tell us they will seriously consider this.<\/p>\n