During our visit, we did not see any stationary trucks in the surrounding area, which was positive. However, we did see one truck driving around for approximately fifteen minutes before it was able to enter the premises. Keeping a truck moving is better than leaving it stationary, as the airflow provides some cooling. However, on hot days like this, trucks should ideally be able to enter the premises immediately upon arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVery good lairage<\/strong> While the outdoor temperature was around 30 \u00b0C in the sun, the temperature inside the lairage was approximately 20 \u00b0C and could be lowered even further if necessary. Cooled air was directed towards the containers at different heights, ensuring that chickens at every level benefited from it. The manager told us that the lairage can also be heated in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A minority of the birds had their beaks open and were breathing more rapidly, indicating mild to moderate heat stress, while many of the other birds were breathing normally. The signs of heat stress were presumably partly due to the birds having recently been transported in temperatures of up to 30 \u00b0C. Fortunately, the loading density in the container drawers was lower than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The temperature and humidity in the lairage were shown on several displays on the wall. The lairage was also kept dark and illuminated with blue light, helping to keep the chickens calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thorough inspection of the chickens<\/strong> Humane H2H device to quickly put suffering chickens out of their misery<\/strong> Chickens still arriving late in the afternoon<\/strong> We thank the slaughterhouse for its openness, for allowing us to see everything firsthand, and for the innovative measures it has taken to reduce heat stress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today, we paid an unannounced visit to a broiler slaughterhouse in Overijssel, the Netherlands. With temperatures reaching around 30 \u00b0C, we wanted to see whether the slaughterhouse had taken measures to prevent heat stress as much as possible, such as reducing loading densities and carefully planning arrivals to avoid waiting times. We also wanted to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":394,"featured_media":44435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27,129],"tags":[732,710,450,608],"class_list":["post-44438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-inspektionen","category-schlachthaeuser","tag-animal-welfare-improvements-de","tag-animal-welfare-inspection-de","tag-slaughterhouse-design-de","tag-slaughterhouses-de","entry"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse.jpg",1194,892,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-250x187.jpg",250,187,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-803x600.jpg",803,600,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-768x574.jpg",768,574,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse.jpg",1194,892,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse.jpg",1194,892,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse.jpg",1194,892,false],"home-bottom":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"home-middle":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-332x190.jpg",332,190,true],"home-top":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-700x400.jpg",700,400,true],"gb-block-post-grid-landscape":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"gb-block-post-grid-square":["https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260813-overijsse-slaughterhouse-600x600.jpg",600,600,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":" Today, we paid an unannounced visit to a broiler slaughterhouse in Overijssel, the Netherlands. With temperatures reaching around 30 \u00b0C, we wanted to see whether the slaughterhouse had taken measures to prevent heat stress as much as possible, such as reducing loading densities and carefully planning arrivals to avoid waiting times. We also wanted to see the facilities in the lairage. No stationary trucks, but one truck driving aroundDuring our visit, we did not see any stationary trucks in the surrounding area, which was positive. However, we did see one truck driving around for approximately fifteen minutes before it was…<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"Inspektionen<\/a>, Schlachth\u00e4user<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Sanja","url":"https:\/\/www.eyesonanimals.com\/de\/author\/sanja\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"\n
When we arrived, staff welcomed us and took the time to show us around the lairage. Built last year, it is very modern and sets an example for many other slaughterhouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We saw an employee inspecting the chickens using a device specially designed for this purpose. It consisted of an illuminated camera mounted on a pole, with a screen positioned at the employee\u2019s eye level showing the live camera feed. The pole also enabled him to properly inspect the chickens in the top drawers. We were impressed by this device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The slaughterhouse also had an H2H Euthanizer, which is used to quickly put sick or injured chickens out of their misery. We support the use of this device because it renders chickens immediately unconscious and kills them, with minimal stress. The manager told us that the device is also available at their other slaughterhouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later in the afternoon, when the temperature had reached approximately 34 \u00b0C, we saw that chickens were still being delivered to the slaughterhouse. In our view, chickens should no longer be caught and loaded at such temperatures. From next year onwards, transport at temperatures above 30 \u00b0C will no longer be permitted in the Netherlands, as animal welfare cannot be adequately protected under these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n