Clazing, which operates slaughterhouses in Breukelen, Hunsel, Beringe and Zevenhuizen, is stopping the use of Marel’s five-tier transport containers to reduce the risk of catching injuries. It will now use only Marel’s four-tier containers, which are lower and provide more headspace for the broilers. Eyes on Animals has called for five-tier containers to be phased out … [Read more...] about Clazing stops using five-tier containers to reduce the risk of catching injuries
chicken-catching
Upright catching of laying hens: sharing experiences with the Swiss poultry sector
Eyes on Animals recently gave an online presentation on laying hen catching to a broad group of Swiss stakeholders, including representatives from industry organizations, animal welfare labels, animal welfare organizations, poultry farmers and veterinary authorities. The meeting was organized by FiBL, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Switzerland, which is … [Read more...] about Upright catching of laying hens: sharing experiences with the Swiss poultry sector
Financial support for project on sick and injured birds on farms
We have received wonderful news. Stichting Abri voor Dieren has decided to financially support our project to reduce the suffering of sick and injured birds on poultry farms. Thanks to their contribution, we can test and help introduce more humane ways of putting these animals out of their misery. Poultry farmers deal almost daily with birds that become sick, injured or … [Read more...] about Financial support for project on sick and injured birds on farms
Improving broiler catching and loading: Eyes on Animals presents to the Better Chicken Business Network
Weeks of good stockmanship can be undone in just a few hours of rough catching and loading. Catching and loading are among the most stressful moments in a broiler chicken’s life. But rough or high-speed handling not only causes fear, pain and injuries among the birds, it also results in significant financial losses. Eyes on Animals recently shared its experiences with … [Read more...] about Improving broiler catching and loading: Eyes on Animals presents to the Better Chicken Business Network
Visiting poultry farms to share good practices
Over the past few weeks, Eyes on Animals visited several dozen poultry farms across the Netherlands to talk about our project promoting the upright catching of chickens (instead of carrying them upside down by their legs) and about more humane ways to kill sick and injured birds. These are not always easy topics to discuss, but they are important ones. This time, we … [Read more...] about Visiting poultry farms to share good practices
Eyes on Animals speaks at WPSA seminar in Wageningen on catching and loading of poultry
Eyes on Animals spoke at a seminar of the World’s Poultry Science Association in Wageningen, sharing observations and experiences from the field on the catching and loading of poultry. In practice, most birds are still caught by one leg, pulled from the floor or housing system, and pushed or thrown into transport containers or crates while hanging upside down. This is … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals speaks at WPSA seminar in Wageningen on catching and loading of poultry
The Animal Law Foundation challenges UK government over cruel catching method
In February, an important court case will begin in the United Kingdom concerning the catching of chickens by their legs. The Animal Law Foundation is taking legal action against the UK government’s decision to allow this catching method again. Catching poultry by the legs is currently prohibited, but in practice is still widely used. Instead of … [Read more...] about The Animal Law Foundation challenges UK government over cruel catching method
Online training for Kipster farm manager in the USA
Today, Eyes on Animals provided an online training session to the manager of several Kipster laying hen barns in the USA, operated under franchise by MPS Egg Farms. As this farm manager recently started managing the Kipster houses, he plays a key role in safeguarding animal welfare during all stages of production, including during depopulation, the training focused on … [Read more...] about Online training for Kipster farm manager in the USA
First International Conference on Poultry Catching and Loading
Today, Eyes on Animals hosted the first international conference dedicated to poultry catching and loading, held in Leiden, the Netherlands. About 80 representatives from over nine countries attended, including catching teams from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands; engineers specializing in poultry transport containers and barn design from Italy and Poland; … [Read more...] about First International Conference on Poultry Catching and Loading
Catching and loading BLK turkeys with the TA800 catching machine
Last night, Eyes on Animals observed the loading of turkeys using the TA800 catching machine from CMC-Industries. We were invited by Bram Godrie of GTC Technics and turkey farmer Dirk van der Sterren. The turkeys were kept according to the Beter Leven1-star criteria, which mainly means they had slightly more space and enrichment materials. In total, 3,500 turkeys … [Read more...] about Catching and loading BLK turkeys with the TA800 catching machine
