Early 2021 Smits - source of energy, the producer of Eike eggs which are sold at Sligro, had informed us that they would like to have their spent laying hens caught upright. This involved a total of 40,000 chickens. These hens were to be caught and loaded mid-2022, supervised by a team from Eyes on Animals. Unfortunately, Eike informed us that they … [Read more...] about Hens from “Eike” sadly continued to be caught upside down by the legs
animal transport
EonA report ‘Welfare goat-kids’ used for policy making
In a recent letter the Dutch minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Henk Staghouwer, has informed the parliament that the report of Eyes on Animals, ‘The welfare of male goat-kids’, has been used to make policy. He writes that several recommendations have already been put into practice: The I&R (Identification & Registration) requirements … [Read more...] about EonA report ‘Welfare goat-kids’ used for policy making
Pali Group stops with transport of very young male kids
Livestock company and meat producer Pali Group has informed us that they will no longer transport male goat-kids of only 7-10 days old to slaughterhouses. Their affiliated dairy-goat producers will now fatten their male kids for at least a couple of weeks on the farm. Once the male kids are transported they are stronger and a little less dependent on milk. In the … [Read more...] about Pali Group stops with transport of very young male kids
Meeting with Irish calf importers Van Drie and Pali
Today Eyes on Animals met with Van Drie and Pali regarding the calves they import from Ireland. During the transportation of unweaned calves, from Ireland to the Netherlands, legislation concerning feeding is repeatedly violated. Unweaned calves, 2-3 weeks old are being given milk only once during a 50 hour journey. Legally, these calves are supposed to be given milk after … [Read more...] about Meeting with Irish calf importers Van Drie and Pali
Newly released EonA/EFI report show 2 – 4 week old Irish calves in transit for 50 hours and only fed once
Eyes on Animals, Ethical Farming Ireland and MEP Anja Hazekamp recently undertook an investigation into unweaned calf export from Ireland to the mainland (the Netherlands followed by Spain being the biggest importers of unweaned calves from Ireland). We focused on the first stage of the journey for the calves when they leave the farm in Ireland and head to … [Read more...] about Newly released EonA/EFI report show 2 – 4 week old Irish calves in transit for 50 hours and only fed once
More and more closed livestock trucks are on the roads in the Netherlands and pose risk to animal-welfare
Already back in 2013 we alerted authorities across the Netherlands and Europe, as well as industry stakeholders involved in animal transport and slaughter, about the phenomenon of closed livestock trucks growing in numbers among mainly Dutch transporters. These trucks are in violation of the European transport laws as they limit or block all visual inspection of the … [Read more...] about More and more closed livestock trucks are on the roads in the Netherlands and pose risk to animal-welfare
Observations of heat-stress in pigs transported in different types of trucks in the Netherlands
Today, in connection with the warm weather (28 degrees Celsius, 50% relative humidity) Eyes on Animals set out to inspect different types of pig transportation trucks. We took temperature and humidity measurements, checked the load density and observed the behaviour of the animals. The trucks were parked under a roofing with fans. Three cross-ventilated … [Read more...] about Observations of heat-stress in pigs transported in different types of trucks in the Netherlands
Deformed broiler chickens put on transport
At approx. 9AM Eyes on Animals inspected a poultry-truck parked up along the A6 Highway as the driver was running early on his way to Storteboom slaughterhouse in Kornhorn. Inside the truck we saw several broilers with seriously deformed legs. They were barely able to stand or walk. See a video here >> The fact that we found broilers in this condition is … [Read more...] about Deformed broiler chickens put on transport
The Dutch authorities continue to tolerate livestock trucks without access doors to the animals
More and more often we see Dutch-platted and Dutch-approved animal trucks on the road without any access doors on the sides. Access to the animals on these trucks is close to impossible- the only way in is via the back which in reality means no access. No truck driver is going to crawl on his knees through a floor of 80 pigs or suckling calves or sheep, or walk through a … [Read more...] about The Dutch authorities continue to tolerate livestock trucks without access doors to the animals
Motions passed for legal requirements to reduce heat-stress during live transports
Recently two important motions were passed at the House of Representatives to restrict heatstress during live transports. The motions were filed by Esther Ouwehand and Loenie Vestering from the Political Party for the Animals. A majority of the House of Representatives voted for a full ban on the transporation of live animals at temperatures above … [Read more...] about Motions passed for legal requirements to reduce heat-stress during live transports
