Today, Eyes on Animals presented at the annual ATF Conference "Current Problems in Animal Welfare" in Hannover. This conference, organized by the Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, brings together veterinarians from across Germany to discuss pressing animal welfare issues. To an audience of veterinarians, we shared our observations and experiences regarding the … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals presents on chicken welfare in Hannover during catching and loading
chicken transport
Upright catching at Demeter poultry farm De Dennenhoeve
This evening, a team from Eyes on Animals assisted with the catching and loading of hens at Demeter poultry farm De Dennenhoeve. This farm was one of the first to abandon the conventional method, in which hens are held upside down by a single leg. Seven years ago, they switched to the upright catching method developed by Eyes on Animals. As a token of appreciation, eight … [Read more...] about Upright catching at Demeter poultry farm De Dennenhoeve
NVWA to start enforcing rules on poultry trapped on their backs
Following enforcement requests by Animal Rights, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will finally take stronger action against a long-standing animal welfare issue: birds ending up on their backs in transport crates or containers. This often occurs when poultry is handled roughly during loading and tossed into crates or containers at high speed and … [Read more...] about NVWA to start enforcing rules on poultry trapped on their backs
Training the trainers – Eyes on Animals equips Tierschutzbund team with humane handling techniques
Today, Madelaine from Eyes on Animals provided a training session to the poultry team of the German animal welfare organization Deutscher Tierschutzbund on the humane handling of laying hens and broilers during catching and loading. The training covered essential factors to keep birds as calm as possible and minimize injuries. Topics included bird behavior, … [Read more...] about Training the trainers – Eyes on Animals equips Tierschutzbund team with humane handling techniques
Presentation to the German Veterinary Association (TVT) on poultry transport
This past weekend, Eyes on Animals gave a presentation to the (poultry) transport working group of the German Veterinary Association (TVT). The enforcement policy of the NVWA regarding catching injuries was a hot topic! In the Netherlands, both the poultry farmer and the catching team are fined if more than 1% of the flock shows catching injuries (severe bleedings). This … [Read more...] about Presentation to the German Veterinary Association (TVT) on poultry transport
A Collaborative Success Story: Upright Catching in Switzerland
In 2023, Eyes on Animals approached Schweizer Tierschutz (STS) to introduce our project on upright catching for laying hens in The Netherlands. This catching method significantly reduces stress, panic, and injuries by keeping the hens in their natural position, rather than being carried upside down by one leg. While upright catching was already widely used in Swiss broiler … [Read more...] about A Collaborative Success Story: Upright Catching in Switzerland
Presentation on chicken catching at major conference for veterinarians and inspectors in Hannover
Today, we had the honor of being the first to present at a major conference in Hannover for German veterinarians and slaughterhouse inspectors! Our presentation focused on an important yet often overlooked topic: the catching and loading of poultry for transport. We shared our findings on how the design of transport crates and containers affects the risk of catching … [Read more...] about Presentation on chicken catching at major conference for veterinarians and inspectors in Hannover
Upright catching of broiler chickens introduced in Germany
Tonight, Eyes on Animals trained chicken-catchers from a catching company in Germany on the upright method of catching birds. The team consisted of eight Polish employees, so a Polish interpreter from Eyes on Animals was present to make sure that all the Polish catchers could understand well what we were teaching. The training took place at a large German broiler … [Read more...] about Upright catching of broiler chickens introduced in Germany
WUR research proves: upright catching significantly reduces catching injuries
Recent research by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) into injury risks from different catching methods - including the traditional method (upside down by one leg), the upright catching method (as promoted by Eyes on Animals), and machine catching - shows that the upright catching method performed best. Broilers caught upright sustained significantly … [Read more...] about WUR research proves: upright catching significantly reduces catching injuries
Severe heat stress in sows on board of stationary truck
This afternoon, Eyes on Animals discovered an animal-truck parked in the parking lot of a gas station near VION Groenlo abattoir with culled sows and a few boars on board. The truck was in the full sun (30°C), causing the animals on board to experience severe heat stress. Additionally, fights broke out between the animals, further exacerbating the stress. Eyes on Animals … [Read more...] about Severe heat stress in sows on board of stationary truck
