Today Eyes on Animals met with representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, sausage company Brandt & Levie, Varkens in Nood (Pigs in Peril) and organic pig farmer Kees Scheepens to discuss how we can help the organic pig sector find a path towards a future where castration is phased out. Kees Scheepens and one other Dutch organic pig farmer, Gideon … [Read more...] about Meeting with Ministry, VIN and Brandt & Levie about pig castration
animal welfare improvements
Norwegian chicken producer Norsk Kyling uses upright catching method
The Norwegian chicken producer Norsk Kyling has been encouraging their poultry farmers (135 in total) and catching companies to catch their broilers using the upright method, instead of grabbing them by the legs. In barns where the containers can be placed close to the broilers with a forklift, the upright method is usually applied. In barns where the containers are … [Read more...] about Norwegian chicken producer Norsk Kyling uses upright catching method
Slaughterhouse near Ordu (TR) continues to use stunner to render cattle uncouscious
Hopeful news from Turkey: the Halal slaughterhouse near Ordu that we trained in May on how to use a stunner and convinced them to at least render cattle unconscious prior to hoisting and cutting their throats is still stunning the cattle. This has meant a huge decrease in the level of suffering. We are regularly in Turkey to make people aware of the urgent need to … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse near Ordu (TR) continues to use stunner to render cattle uncouscious
Visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse in Beringe (NL)
Today we paid an announced visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse. Van der Linden took time out of their busy schedule to show us the process from beginning to end, and to answer all our questions. In the lairage, big fans with water-misters had been fitted on the ceiling. There were also fans on the floor. The water-misters help cool the air. However, in … [Read more...] about Visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse in Beringe (NL)
Interview with Lesley Moffat for the podcast-show “See differently’
For the podcast-show “See differently” Christel van Raaij has a personal interview with Lesley Moffat, director and founder of Eyes on Animals. Lesley tells about her youth in Canada, Temple Grandin, eating cheese while being a vegan and about the work of Eyes on Animals; why it is so important to not judge people, and work on improvements together. Listen to the … [Read more...] about Interview with Lesley Moffat for the podcast-show “See differently’
Training and implementing stunning at 2 cattle slaughterhouses in Ardahan, Turkey
On August 24th and 25th we introduced stunning at 2 more Turkish slaughterhouses, this time in Ardahan, Turkey (far north-east). Together with a local representative from the Turkish welfare NGO "HAYTAP" we met with the city mayor, slaughterhouse managers and state vet to discuss animal welfare. Afterwards we educated them, plus the slaughtermen, on how a captive bolt … [Read more...] about Training and implementing stunning at 2 cattle slaughterhouses in Ardahan, Turkey
Upright catching of Kipster-hens in Beuningen (NL)
Tonight we were at a Kipster laying-hen farm in Beuningen (NL) - where 22,000 "spent" hens were being caught for transport to slaughter. A television-crew from a well-known German channel were there as were some of our German colleagues. At Kipster, all hens are caught using the EonA upright method (max. 2 hens at a time and always held upright and … [Read more...] about Upright catching of Kipster-hens in Beuningen (NL)
Request for enforcement regarding long waiting periods in overheated trucks at VION slaughterhouses
Eyes on Animals has filed an enforcement request with the minister of farming, nature, and food safety about the long waiting times at Vion slaughterhouses in Boxtel and Apeldoorn. On the 18th and 19th of July (two extremely warm days) Eyes on Animals again observed long waiting times at the slaughterhouses. Waiting times increased up to 2-2,5 hours. During this time … [Read more...] about Request for enforcement regarding long waiting periods in overheated trucks at VION slaughterhouses
Unannounced visit to Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
Today we visited Gosschalk in Epe (NL) where Eyes on Animals has permission to inspect without notice. Due to the vacation period there were relatively few people present and fewer pigs being slaughtered but the staff still made time for us immediately. First, we looked at footage from the smart-camera system, ‘Argus’, taken on a sweltering day the week before. … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
Demeter farm Het Willink enthousiastic about the upright catching method
Demeter farm Het Willink (biodynamic) caught all their hens using the upright method for the first time this year. The owner let us know he was pleasantly surprised. He said: "It was very quiet in the poultry shed. So, I went to check if the catchers had already started working. When i looked, half of the chickens were already in the crates. The difference in the noise … [Read more...] about Demeter farm Het Willink enthousiastic about the upright catching method
