• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • EYES ON ANIMALS – Watching out for their Welfare
  • English
  • Nederlands
  • Deutsch

Eyes on Animals

Watching out for their Welfare

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Our team
    • Key Figures
    • Our Vision
    • Contact
  • News
    • Latest news
    • Good news
    • Bad news
    • Featured news
    • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Inspections
    • Farms
    • Markets
    • Transports
    • Slaughterhouses
    • Special projects
    • Other
  • Training
    • Police
    • Truck drivers
    • Poultry-catchers
    • Slaughter personnel
    • Training Material
    • Request a training
  • Industry Tips
    • Animal transport
      • Cattle
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
    • Slaughterhouses
      • Cattle
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Ritual slaughter
    • Educational videos
  • Publications
    • In the media
      • Print
      • Television
      • Radio
      • Videos
    • Newsletters
    • Special reports
    • Training Material
    • Annual reviews
  • Help us
Home » News » Several animal welfare improvements at slaughterhouse for goat-kids

Several animal welfare improvements at slaughterhouse for goat-kids

August 8, 2022

In March of this year we paid a visit to a slaughterhouse where among other animals goat-kids of approx. 7-12days old are slaughtered. Read a report about this visit here >>

We find it distressing and unacceptable that some milk goat farmers send their “surplus” goat-kids to a slaughterhouse this young. Although the handling of the goat kids was calm (they stayed in small groups together from arrival to stunning), several animal welfare improvements were needed. Fortunately, the manager was open to our advice and got to work on them right away. He told us he wants to do things as well as possible. 

The following improvements were implemented: 

  • During our visit the goat kids were wet down (shortly before electrical stunning) with a cold and rather strong water jet. This conducts the electricity better. However, this causes stress among the goat-kids. A spray nozzle has been purchased with a softer smaller jet and instead of cold water, lukewarm water will be used from now on.
  • The work process has been changed so that goat-kids are bled out immediately after stunning. The sooner this is done, the smaller the chance that goat-kids regain consciousness. 
  • Especially for the younger animals,  smaller, lighter electric prongs will be made. With these prongs electrodes can be placed  more easily and accurately, without accidently touching other animals. 
  • The monitoring of proper debleeding and signals of consciousness has been improved. 
  • In the stunning area instruction signs will be displayed to minimalize the chances of stress, pain and mistakes. 
  • Before the start of winter, goat kids in the waiting pen will be better protected from the cold. During warmer days the occupancy rate will be lowered. (from 20 to 15) 
  • Water bottles with teats will be hung in the waiting pens. Previously these were loose containers on the floor (that got knocked over).

We will revisit the slaughterhouse in  early spring to witness the effectiveness of the implemented improvements. We would like to thank the slaughterhouse for their efforts and transparency. 

  • share 
  • share 
  • share 
  • save 
  • email 

Filed Under: Good news, News Tagged With: animal welfare inspection, goat kids, slaughterhouses

Primary Sidebar

Search

Featured

As small slaughterhouses disappear, transport distances increase

Eyes on Animals is observing a troubling trend: transport distances for culled cows and sows are … [Read More...] about As small slaughterhouses disappear, transport distances increase

Featured

Dutch transport company Van Os implicated in serious transport fraud involving Irish calves

May 8, 2025

Once again, serious violations have been uncovered in the transport of calves from Ireland. Last … [Read More...] about Dutch transport company Van Os implicated in serious transport fraud involving Irish calves

Our most recent newsletter

Dear friends,

It’s not every day that an animal-welfare organization takes on the challenge of redesigning a large pig slaughterhouse and their animal handling techniques, but that’s exactly what we did in 2020.

Read more…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

Eyes on Animals op Twitter

eyes_on_animals Eyes on Animals @eyes_on_animals ·
16 Jun

🩷🐷
De ballenjongens van boer Kees ;-)
#varkens #dierwaardig @KeesScheep

Reply on Twitter 1934604881123565929 Retweet on Twitter 1934604881123565929 1 Like on Twitter 1934604881123565929 6 Twitter 1934604881123565929
eyes_on_animals Eyes on Animals @eyes_on_animals ·
16 Jun

Aanrader, dit artikel!
- Grazend gebraad – De Groene Amsterdammer

Reply on Twitter 1934508486462689780 Retweet on Twitter 1934508486462689780 Like on Twitter 1934508486462689780 2 Twitter 1934508486462689780
apollo_93742460 Apollo 🇺🇦  @apollo_93742460 ·
13 Jun

Oceaanverdrag mist nog tien goedkeuringen, ook die van Nederland ontbreekt

Dat kun je onderhand ook geen verrassing meer noemen.

via @NOS

Reply on Twitter 1933629170044608568 Retweet on Twitter 1933629170044608568 2 Like on Twitter 1933629170044608568 5 Twitter 1933629170044608568
Load More...

ANBI

Footer

Donate with Paypal

Paypal Eyes on Animals
One-time donation:
Monthly donation:

Reading Material

  • In the Media
  • Newsletters
  • Special EonA reports
  • Legislative texts
  • ANBI

Our Amsterdam Office

Amsterdam House Hotel
Eyes on Animals main office is in downtown Amsterdam, at the Amsterdam House Hotel. The generous and warm-hearted hotel owner donated to Eyes on Animals, free of charge, a beautiful room where our inspectors can work, hold meetings and store their material.

Copyright © 2025 · Eyes on Animals | Website by Webkompaan