After Eyes on Animals were invited to submit evidence to the UK Government’s consultation on a possible ban on live exports from the UK, we were duly invited to attend a meeting at DEFRA’s head office in London, along with WAP (World Animal Protection) and CIWF UK to discuss options available to the UK regarding the trade in live exports once they exit the EU. The … [Read more...] about Meeting with DEFRA (Departement for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
animal transport
Meeting with industry about “National plan extreme temperatures”
Today Eyes on Animals attended a meeting with stakeholders from the livestock industry (Vee&Logistiek and COV) about the “National plan extreme temperatures”, also called the ‘heat protocol’ which has been developed by the industry. The Dierenbescherming (Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals) was also present. Eyes on Animals requested the meeting after they … [Read more...] about Meeting with industry about “National plan extreme temperatures”
P&O Ferries stops accepting livestock trucks carrying young calves
Eyes on Animals played a leading role in major ferry company, P&O, ending the export of young calves from Scotland for onward transportation to Spain. Eyes on Animals uncovered numerous journey logs under the Freedom of Information Act stating that the P&O ferry company was facilitating the trade in young calves from Cairnryan Port in Scotland, via Ireland for … [Read more...] about P&O Ferries stops accepting livestock trucks carrying young calves
Unsatisfactory inspection of a mink transport by the NVWA
At the beginning of July, Eyes on Animals received a disturbing notification from our colleagues at Animal Welfare Foundation in Germany about a Bulgarian mink transporter heading to Putten (NL) to load mink there for Greece. Due to the miserable conditions under which the animals would be transported and the lack of papers, Eyes on Animals asked the NVWA to check on the … [Read more...] about Unsatisfactory inspection of a mink transport by the NVWA
Inspection of the piglet transport from Pali
Today our team found a parked drag unit from Pali in the south of the Netherlands loaded with young piglets. The consignments were of so-called "residual piglets". These are piglets that go to slaughter because of (minor) disorders, such as an umbilical hernia or bitten ears, and are therefore not fattened up. The unit was parked in direct sunlight. The driver picked up … [Read more...] about Inspection of the piglet transport from Pali
Storteboom improves poultry containers to reduce injuries
Poultry slaughterhouse Storteboom took our advice into consideration on how they could improve their poultry containers and has now made positive changes. In the front of the containers there used to be one horizontal metal bar and two diagonal ones. During catching and loading, birds would sometimes crash against these metal bars, causing pain, fear and also injury. … [Read more...] about Storteboom improves poultry containers to reduce injuries
Inspection of a mink transport on the way to NL for a load destined for Greece
In the morning of 3rd July we received a notification from Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) that they had checked a Bulgarian mink transport in Osnabrück. The truck was empty and was going to be loaded with mink in the Netherlands bound for a mink farm in Greece. However, AWF noted that the conditions inside the truck were a concern as the cages were very small and there … [Read more...] about Inspection of a mink transport on the way to NL for a load destined for Greece
Checking arrival of pigs at Vion Boxtel in summer heat, NL
Today was very hot outside and thus a team from Eyes on Animals made an unannounced visit to Vion slaughterhouse in Boxtel to check if the slaughterhouse was well prepared to protect pigs from heat stress. The outside temperature is 27 - 28 degrees and there are no clouds. We saw that Vion employees were spraying the asphalt under the waiting pig trucks to keep the asphalt … [Read more...] about Checking arrival of pigs at Vion Boxtel in summer heat, NL
Slaughterhouse Weidemark (Germany) makes changes to reduce heat stress
Eyes on Animals visited this pig slaughterhouse in the summer of 2016 (many Dutch pigs are slaughtered here) and noticed that many animals had to wait on board trucks, in the sun, for hours before being unloaded. We spoke with the director and insisted immediate measures be taken to reduce some of the heat stress risks. The first thing they should do is order industrial … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse Weidemark (Germany) makes changes to reduce heat stress
Rondeel chickens first to be caught and loaded in a more friendly manner
Chickens will no longer be grabbed by their legs, hung upside down and stuffed into transport crates 4 to 5 at a time when they leave the farm to go to the slaughterhouse. Eyes on Animals has introduced the 'EonA Dutch catching method' to the Dutch poultry industry. Dutch poultry and egg farm "Rondeel" is the first to switch over. Organic, free range, barn and caged … [Read more...] about Rondeel chickens first to be caught and loaded in a more friendly manner
