Today Eyes on Animals joined Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals to check on the condition and treatment of cattle at the livestock market in Sawyerville, Quebec. We were pleased to not observe any bovine in very poor condition, all appeared fit and mobile. Nevertheless, the handling of the animals was at times unnecessarily aggressive, with most employees seen hitting … [Read more...] about Inspection of Sawyerville livestock market, Quebec (CA)
animal welfare improvements
Poultry farm Boerveenshof is going to catch their hens on the EonA Dutch way
Poultry farm Boerveenshof has decided to catch and load their hens the EonA Dutch way - when the hens have to be sent to slaughter. Boerveenshof is the first Demeter company that will practice the EonA Dutch catching method on a large scale. The hens will be caught by Poultry service Smeding (NL) after receiving training from Eyes on Animals. Smeding is also very keen to … [Read more...] about Poultry farm Boerveenshof is going to catch their hens on the EonA Dutch way
Meeting with Kipster about EonA Dutch catching and loading
Today we met with Ruud Zanders from Kipster (egg producing company) to discuss the catching and loading of 11.000 Kipster hens earlier this month – using the EonA Dutch method. Ruud said that after the catching experience, he has been convinced the EonA Dutch method is the correct approach and will now switch to this. The birds experience far less stress and the extra … [Read more...] about Meeting with Kipster about EonA Dutch catching and loading
Vion cattle slaughterhouse, Leeuwarden, NL
Today we visited the new cattle slaughterhouse in Leeuwarden from the company Vion. The plant had received consultation before building it on animal-behaviour and the latest design tips and equipment available to lairage, herd, restrain and slaughter cattle. After all the horrors we have seen at cattle plants in Ghana and Turkey and some in Europe, we were relieved to … [Read more...] about Vion cattle slaughterhouse, Leeuwarden, NL
Meeting about EonA Dutch catching with poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding
Today we had a meeting with biodynamic poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding from Dronrijp (NL). Rolf and Danielle from Boerveenshof would like to catch their hens (once due for slaughter) using the EonA Dutch method. This ensures the chickens are kept upright instead of grabbed and hung by their legs. The goal is to cause less stress and pain to the … [Read more...] about Meeting about EonA Dutch catching with poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding
11,000 Kipster chickens caught in the EonA Dutch way
After our work with Rondeel, Kipster has also decided to switch to the EonA Dutch catching method. With the EonA Dutch catching method, chickens are caught two at a time, upright around the breast and wings. With this method, the chickens experience less stress and pain compared to the commercial catching method where chickens are grabbed roughly by their legs, held … [Read more...] about 11,000 Kipster chickens caught in the EonA Dutch way
Visit of Pali pig slaughterhouse, Geldrop (NL)
Today we inspected Pali pig slaughterhouse. We were here during the heat wave last summer to see if there was a long line-up or not. We were pleased to see that pigs did not have to wait long before being unloaded, mostly because Pali runs their own logistics and trucks, and thus can coordinate arrival times easily. Today we were asked to come back to check on the entire … [Read more...] about Visit of Pali pig slaughterhouse, Geldrop (NL)
Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Today Eyes on Animals visited poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet. Various animal welfare measures had been implemented. There was blue light in the lairage. It is known that this has a calming effect on the chickens. The lairage can be cooled by means of fans with a misting system. Outside the abattoir there is a woody area where trucks can be in the shade … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Talk with Demeter about chicken-catching methods
Today we had a meeting with Demeter Netherlands about the welfare of laying hens during catching, loading and slaughtering. At the moment, laying hens on Demeter farms in the Netherlands are still being caught in the same way as non-Demeter hens, namely by their legs and held upside down, with a catcher holding 3-5 hens in one hand. We have asked Demeter to switch, just … [Read more...] about Talk with Demeter about chicken-catching methods
Animal welfare improvements at Tomassen duck slaughterhouse
After Eyes on Animals visited Tomassen duck slaughterhouse, they have made some in-house changes to reduce suffering. Tomassen uses an electric waterbath to stun the ducks before slaughter. Before stunning ducks are shackled alive manually. On our recommendation Tomassen closed a gap underneath the shackle-line where the ducks sometimes got stuck with their beaks. The … [Read more...] about Animal welfare improvements at Tomassen duck slaughterhouse
