Eyes on Animals has decided to leave the Poultry Catching Steering Group. The industry stakeholders within the steering group (a.o. NVPSB, Nepluvi and LTO) are not committed to switch to a catching and loading method which holds birds in an upright, natural position. Even though scientific studies, the EFSA recommendations and a court decision, all conclude that birds … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals resigns from the Poultry Catching Steering Group
live animal transports
Visit to Kempense export-centre in Merksplas (BE)
Today we visited the Kempense export-centre at Merksplas in Belgium, where Irish calves were being held for export to Poland. Eyes on Animals is very critical of the export route that Irish calves undergo to mainland Europe. When exporting/importing Irish calves, the legal feeding intervals during these long journeys are systematically violated. … [Read more...] about Visit to Kempense export-centre in Merksplas (BE)
Training chicken-catchers, NL
This afternoon Eyes on Animals was asked by a large and progressive chicken- catching company to give an animal-welfare training course to their employees. The purpose was to educate their catchers on poultry behaviour, their sentience and physiology and how to catch birds keeping them upright instead of by their legs upside down. We also covered how to load the birds in … [Read more...] about Training chicken-catchers, NL
Consultation with ministries LNV and SZW regarding implementation Futselaar motion
This afternoon Eyes on Animals was in The Hague at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.We met with the Minister of Agriculture (Piet Adema) and the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (Karien van Gennip). Follow up on the progress after the implementation of the Futselaar Motion. Other participants were people from the meat industry, trade unions and … [Read more...] about Consultation with ministries LNV and SZW regarding implementation Futselaar motion
Olives Gbawe slaughterhouse, Accra, Ghana
An Eyes on Animals team is back in Ghana. Since 2017 we have been helping (hands-on and financially) the terrific local animal-welfare organization WACPAW (West Africa Centre for the Protection of Animal Welfare) in getting urgent help to animals in Ghanaean slaughterhouses, where the level of suffering is exceptionally high. The slaughterhouse we visited today is called … [Read more...] about Olives Gbawe slaughterhouse, Accra, Ghana
Dutch court rules: catching birds by their legs is illegal and authorities must take enforcement action
Today the Dutch court ruled that catching chickens by their legs is forbidden under EU law 1/2005, and that the Dutch Food Authority (NVWA) should enforce this. The case was filed by the organization Wakker Dier. Until now the NVWA has only given warnings to catching companies that catch and load chickens by their legs. The judge has decided that this does not suffice. The … [Read more...] about Dutch court rules: catching birds by their legs is illegal and authorities must take enforcement action
EonA meets with Denkavit to discuss L214’s exposure of mistreatment of calves at their testing station in France
Today we met with the managers of Denkavit’s headquarters in the Netherlands. Denkavit is a large Dutch company working internationally and producing white veal and feed for veal calves. The reason we asked for a meeting is that we had seen footage taken by the French NGO L214 showing very rough and disrespectful treatment of young calves at one of their feed-testing … [Read more...] about EonA meets with Denkavit to discuss L214’s exposure of mistreatment of calves at their testing station in France
More and more chicken-catching companies, encouraged by the Dutch Chicken Catching Organization, refuse to catch birds upright
For more than six years we have had a positive time training chicken-catching companies on the gentle upright method of catching poultry and, together with several egg and poultry producers, have been catching the birds upright instead of inverted by the legs. Gentle upright catching was not something that could be put into place at all poultry farms in the Netherlands, as … [Read more...] about More and more chicken-catching companies, encouraged by the Dutch Chicken Catching Organization, refuse to catch birds upright
Presentation to DEFRA’s expert-committee on the catching, loading and transportation of poultry
This morning we gave a presentation to the UK government agency DEFRA and their committee of experts AWC (Animal Welfare Committee). We shared our knowledge, experiences and advice on 'upright' catching, as well as showing them the conventional methods of catching, loading and transporting. Sadly we continue to see serious welfare issues, such as hens flying against metal … [Read more...] about Presentation to DEFRA’s expert-committee on the catching, loading and transportation of poultry
EonA shares ideas and advice with the International team from Meyn
Today Eyes on Animals gave a presentation to an International Team from Meyn. Meyn develops transportation modules and slaughter lines for poultry and is a market leader in this field. To make animal welfare an important consideration in the development of their future products, Meyn asked us to share our experiences and our ideas. Among other things we gave … [Read more...] about EonA shares ideas and advice with the International team from Meyn
