Leeuwarden cattle market congress

Today the board of the Leeuwarden Cattle Market held a congress with all the cattle traders using their market. EonA was not able to be physically present due to other duties in the field, but a 3-page letter we wrote was read out and a film we made showing the overall depressing condition many culled-dairy cows are in at the end of “their carreer” on the farm was screened. Apparently they had quite the discussion afterwards but the board says they are pleased with our input and that the end-result is very positive- they are going to try and raise the notch of the condition of the cows accepted on the market. Additionally, the market has agreed to 3 welfare improvements we suggested: 1. to build a permanent gentle-slope ramp so that cattle can walk more easily onto the trucks 2. install extra fans to keep the air fresh during humid and hot summer weather and 3. install CTV at the loading docks to help prevent poor handling during loading/unloading. EonA will continue visiting the cattle market and look forward to reporting on these promising steps forward.