Since 2010 we have been documenting the extreme suffering and death of farm animals being exported by truck from all over Europe to Turkey. This route is a long and complicated one regardless of what time of the year it takes place. But the summertime is the worst, because the temperatures at the EU/Turkey border reach 40 degrees and there is no infrastructure … [Read more...] about Europe plans to export more than 5000 cattle to Turkey during extreme heat again!
live animal transports
Participation in the Focus Group Meeting on Animal Transport in Brussels
On the 24th and 25th of May Eyes on Animals was in Brussels to participate in the Focus Group meeting on the transportation of cattle, poultry and pigs. Our colleague organization TSB|AWF was present at the meeting on the transport of horses. The meetings are an initiative of the European Commission with the aim to develop a "Guide to good practice in animal transport”. As … [Read more...] about Participation in the Focus Group Meeting on Animal Transport in Brussels
Improvement to Pezzaioli water troughs
A few months ago we met with Pezzaioli, a popular manufacturer of livestock trucks used throughout Europe and now also some other parts of the world, to inform them that they had to improve the design of their automatic water troughs for cattle. During our transport inspections at the EU/Turkish border, we found that cattle couldn't get to the water easily. The flap, … [Read more...] about Improvement to Pezzaioli water troughs
Practical- training course to the Poznan highway police (WITD) and official veterinarians, Poland
Following the theory-training we gave the day before, a group of WITD inspectors and official veterinarians gather by the highway for the practical part of our training course. We get a very interesting picture of animal transport in this area because we stop many livestock trucks passing through. A short-distance local cattle transport, an empty truck authorised for the … [Read more...] about Practical- training course to the Poznan highway police (WITD) and official veterinarians, Poland
Eyes on Animals part of EU project on guidelines for better animal-welfare during transport, Brussels
In 2015 Eyes on Animals was asked to be a stakeholder in a 3-year EU-project to identify best practices on how to better protect animals from suffering during transport. Today was the second meeting to work on these guidelines. Our knowledge and evidence from the field was important to show what really goes on in practice, both the bad practices and the improvements some … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals part of EU project on guidelines for better animal-welfare during transport, Brussels
Checking pig trucks in line at VION slaughterhouse, Boxtel (NL)
Today we made an unannounced visit to the pig slaughterhouse VION in Boxtel. The purpose of this visit was to check the pig trucks and to discuss with the drivers possible improvements to the trucks to improve animal -welfare. The loading density of the pigs on the trucks we checked on was in accordance with the EU legislation, nevertheless we thought that the pigs in some … [Read more...] about Checking pig trucks in line at VION slaughterhouse, Boxtel (NL)
EonA and TSB/AWF training course on animal-welfare during transport is now part of mandatory curriculum for Hungarian road inspectors
The Road Transport Academy in Hungary has decided to include live-animal transport in their curriculum, as requested by the official road inspectors in Hungary. As of recently, Hungarian road inspectors have to now also learn about the European legislation on the protection of animals during transport, so they can check on animal-welfare during transport and enforce the … [Read more...] about EonA and TSB/AWF training course on animal-welfare during transport is now part of mandatory curriculum for Hungarian road inspectors
Danish-platted livestock- truck with 420 pigs on board tipped over
On January 21st 2015 a Danish-platted livestock- truck with 420 pigs on board tipped over on the highway in northern Germany. The truck was one of these "newer" models: completely closed sides with automatic ventilation. There were no proper access doors on the side or large openings. When the truck tipped over, the automatic ventilation system naturally stopped and inside … [Read more...] about Danish-platted livestock- truck with 420 pigs on board tipped over
Livestock truck manufacturer will improve design
Recently, Eyes on Animals met with Pezzaioli, a large manufacturing company of livestock trucks used all over Europe. We showed them photos taken during EonA/AWF investigations illustrating welfare problems that take place when the design of the truck and its accessories is not good. This discussion lead to Pezzaioli improving the design of their corner automatic water … [Read more...] about Livestock truck manufacturer will improve design
Poorly designed livestock trucks still being approved by Member States across Europe
Eyes on Animals continues to witness major design- flaws in livestock trucks. We are disappointed that Member State authorities continue to hand permits out to such trucks because the design-flaws can cause serious injury and stress to the animals on board. The most common problem is that the partitions are not able to extend down to the ground. As a result we see animals, … [Read more...] about Poorly designed livestock trucks still being approved by Member States across Europe
