Update from our project in Ghana: our colleagues from WACPAW met with the Assembly members in charge of Tamale slaughterhouse to discuss in detail our suggestions on how they can reduce the stress and suffering of animals. WACPAW left the meeting feeling positive that the slaughterhouse will adopt several major changes and possibly also start stunning the animals prior to … [Read more...] about Meeting with Tamale slaughterhouse Assembly Members, Ghana
animal welfare improvements
Visit slaughterhouse in Tamale, Ghana
On the 6th of October we visited a slaughterhouse in Tamale, Ghana together with the local NGO WACPAW. The handling was extremely brutal. Animals were hit, tails were broken on purpose and necks were stretched backwards so the animals were forced to fall down. Also the design of the slaughterhouse was a catastrophe. Animals were killed all together in one big room. … [Read more...] about Visit slaughterhouse in Tamale, Ghana
Training course for slaughtermen, veterinarians and animal agriculturalists, Cape Coast/Ghana
WACPAW (West African Centre for the Protection of Animal Welfare) heard about our training courses in Turkey and asked Eyes on Animals if we could also come to Ghana to give a workshop to their slaughter men, veterinarians and animal agriculturalists. We financed a team, including humane slaughter expert Dr. Awal Fuseini, and today was our first day in Cape Coast. There … [Read more...] about Training course for slaughtermen, veterinarians and animal agriculturalists, Cape Coast/Ghana
Visit to Dutch poultry farm Wingens
Today our team visited the Dutch poultry farm owned by Rob and Egbert Wingens. At the Wingens farm, broiler chicks are hatched inside the barn. This is rather unique as normally broiler chicks are hatched in hatcheries and then transported live to poultry farms to be fattened. By hatching the birds at the poultry farm there are some positive results: 1. There is no need … [Read more...] about Visit to Dutch poultry farm Wingens
Animal-Welfare training of Migros supermarket auditors responsible for meat selection
Today we gave an animal-welfare workshop to the auditors of Migros supermarket chain in Turkey, responsible for the meat selection at their stores and buying large quantities of meat directly from the slaughterhouses in Turkey. We prepared a check-list for them to, as of now, audit the slaughterhouses that supply Migros. Those that do poorly will be asked to make concrete … [Read more...] about Animal-Welfare training of Migros supermarket auditors responsible for meat selection
Access to poultry during transport now possible with Stork’s new containers
On Monday June 8th Eyes on Animals visited Plukon poultry slaughterhouse in Maasmechelen (Belgium). The broilers are now being transported in a new container system from Stork company. The new design of the transport containers have side access doors so that birds that need treatment or care during transport can be accessed and helped. Thanks to these new access doors, we … [Read more...] about Access to poultry during transport now possible with Stork’s new containers
Practical training of official veterinarians in Katowice, Poland
Today we set up a control point on a highway with the first group of participants of our training, to exercise in practice what was discussed yesterday during the theory part of our training. ITD (Road Transport Inspectors) are providing their professional and kind help. Two livestock trucks are pulled over and inspected. Both trucks are Polish and transporting pigs on … [Read more...] about Practical training of official veterinarians in Katowice, Poland
Slaughterhouse improves restraint box
On advice from Eyes on Animals, the slaughterhouse Heinen in The Netherlands has made improvements to the design of restraint box. The end of the raceway used to look like a dead end as the front side of the restraint-box was closed, causing pigs to be scared and to balk. Now they have opened up the front of the restraint box so that the pigs have the idea that there is an … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse improves restraint box
EonA lecture on animal-welfare to delegation from Indonesia
STC-Nestra hired Eyes on Animals to give a talk in Harderwijk (NL) about our animal transport inspections and how animal-welfare can be improved to a delegation of 7 animal- scientists and meat-industry people from Indonesia that they were hosting. We showed the on-going problems but also best practices in Europe and also discussed concerns regarding certain practices in … [Read more...] about EonA lecture on animal-welfare to delegation from Indonesia
Re-visit slaughterhouse Heinen
Today we again visited the slaughterhouse Heinen, which in 2016 took our advice and improved their restraint box. The restraint box was previously closed in the front but has now been "opened" so the pigs find it less scary to walk to the restrainer. Moreover, if pigs are less stressed, they move more easily, which also causes less stress for employees. This again has a … [Read more...] about Re-visit slaughterhouse Heinen
