Already back in 2013 we alerted authorities across the Netherlands and Europe, as well as industry stakeholders involved in animal transport and slaughter, about the phenomenon of closed livestock trucks growing in numbers among mainly Dutch transporters. These trucks are in violation of the European transport laws as they limit or block all visual inspection of the … [Read more...] about More and more closed livestock trucks are on the roads in the Netherlands and pose risk to animal-welfare
live animal transports
Visit to pig collecting centre in connection with dispute with NVWA (Dutch authorities)
Tonight Eyes on Animals received a call from the owner of a Dutch pig export assembly centre. He was stuck with a big delivery of piglets. The owner told us the pigs were due to be exported to a German slaughterhouse, but the official governmental veterinarians (from the NVWA) left without signing the export certificate, resulting in the piglets having to remain at his … [Read more...] about Visit to pig collecting centre in connection with dispute with NVWA (Dutch authorities)
Compliments to Manor Farm “de Vlinderstrik” for the upright catching of laying hens
At Manor Farm de Vlinderstrik, laying hens were caught upright instead of upside down by their legs. Poultry farmer Albert Boersen shared this today on Twitter. He also wrote about bringing them to the slaughterhouse himself and asking them to “treat the chickens with the same care as he had done”. We are delighted that an increasing number of poultry … [Read more...] about Compliments to Manor Farm “de Vlinderstrik” for the upright catching of laying hens
EonA gives presentation on our upright method of catching hens to Dutch organic egg producers, NL
Eyes on Animals was invited by a group of organic (including Demeter) egg producers in The Netherlands to come and give a talk about our organization and about our project on improving the welfare of laying hens during catching and loading. We had a very productive and respectful discussion afterwards. It is clear that there is a will and interest in new ideas, such as … [Read more...] about EonA gives presentation on our upright method of catching hens to Dutch organic egg producers, NL
EonA helps and supervises upright catching of Kipster’s spent hens, NL
Last night Eyes on Animals gave a short instruction presentation on the EonA upright method of catching laying hens to the commercial catchers hired by Kipster. At Kipster the hens are no longer caught in the conventional way (3-6 at a time held upside down by a leg, per hand) but rather 1-2 at a time and kept upright all the time, supported by under their … [Read more...] about EonA helps and supervises upright catching of Kipster’s spent hens, NL
Meeting with truck manufacturer Berdex about design animal transport trucks
Today we met with truck building company Berdex to discuss the design of livestock trucks. We exchanged knowledge and ideas and discussed the following concerns: Heatstress During inspections, EonA witnessed on numerous occasions that the humidity in cross-ventilated trucks (completely closed trucks with mechanical ventilation inside) is much too high, … [Read more...] about Meeting with truck manufacturer Berdex about design animal transport trucks
Eyes on Animals and the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals want law-abiding standards for transport during hot weather
In 2019, Eyes on Animals, together with the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals, wrote 10 action points slaughterhouses could do to reduce heatstress for animals on board arriving trucks. Recently we prepared a new report about the current state of affairs. Conclusion: although the slaughter and transport industry made some improvements, the biggest cause of … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals and the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals want law-abiding standards for transport during hot weather
Transport inspections in connection with cold stress
Today an Eyes on Animals team observed several livestock transports that arrived at a poultry slaughterhouse and a Halal sheep and goat slaughterhouse in Breukelen. Despite freezing temperatures (-4C), the transport of live animals continued undiminished. Within approximately 1,5 hours 6 livestock trucks arrived. The poultry trucks had their winter covers down and the … [Read more...] about Transport inspections in connection with cold stress
Inspections of pig trucks during cold weather, Boxtel (NL)
Today a team from Eyes on Animals returned to Boxtel to observe trucks with pigs on board, heading to the nearby Vion slaughterhouse. Last time we checked trucks arriving on a cold day here, there was much variation. Many trucks had had their shutters wide open, others mainly closed to protect the animals. Today we fortunately saw less variation, with 7 trucks only having … [Read more...] about Inspections of pig trucks during cold weather, Boxtel (NL)
Eyes on Animals asks industry to take measures against cold stress
Eyes on Animals has sent a letter to Dutch organizations Vee&Logistiek (representing animal traders and transporters), COV (representing the meat-industry) and individual slaughterhouses to take effective measures when animals are transported during cold weather. For example: Closing the side-shutters of the truck and adding a thick layer of bedding. The current … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals asks industry to take measures against cold stress
