Today was very hot out so we brought an unannounced visit to Westfort pig slaughterhouse in IJsselstein (NL) to check on the condition of the pigs being brought to slaughter there. We arrived at around noon when the temperature was approximately 28 degrees Celsius. We spoke to the manager and an animal welfare officer of the slaughterhouse and together checked on some of … [Read more...] about Visit to Westfort pig slaughterhouse in IJsselstein
pig slaughterhouse
Checking arrival of pigs at Vion Boxtel in summer heat, NL
Today was very hot outside and thus a team from Eyes on Animals made an unannounced visit to Vion slaughterhouse in Boxtel to check if the slaughterhouse was well prepared to protect pigs from heat stress. The outside temperature is 27 - 28 degrees and there are no clouds. We saw that Vion employees were spraying the asphalt under the waiting pig trucks to keep the asphalt … [Read more...] about Checking arrival of pigs at Vion Boxtel in summer heat, NL
Slaughterhouse Weidemark (Germany) makes changes to reduce heat stress
Eyes on Animals visited this pig slaughterhouse in the summer of 2016 (many Dutch pigs are slaughtered here) and noticed that many animals had to wait on board trucks, in the sun, for hours before being unloaded. We spoke with the director and insisted immediate measures be taken to reduce some of the heat stress risks. The first thing they should do is order industrial … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse Weidemark (Germany) makes changes to reduce heat stress
MCS pig slaughterhouse, Mohacs/Hungary
A few years ago Eyes on Animals met with MCS to discuss their plans to close down their current slaughterhouse and build a brand new slaughterhouse in Mohacs. We discussed some "best-practices" we had seen in pig slaughterhouses in other countries and encouraged them to incorporate these ideas so that stress and suffering could also be reduced in their new plant. We also … [Read more...] about MCS pig slaughterhouse, Mohacs/Hungary
Slaughterhouse improves restraint box
On advice from Eyes on Animals, the slaughterhouse Heinen in The Netherlands has made improvements to the design of restraint box. The end of the raceway used to look like a dead end as the front side of the restraint-box was closed, causing pigs to be scared and to balk. Now they have opened up the front of the restraint box so that the pigs have the idea that there is an … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse improves restraint box
Unannounced visits to slaughterhouses East Netherlands
On May 2, 2017 we visited five slaughterhouses: Gosschalk in Epe, Poultry slaughterhouses Remkes in Epe, Jan van 'Ee in Stroe, Van Bor in Nijkerkerveen and the duck slaughterhouse Tomassen Duck in Ermelo. It involved unannounced visits, which made us run the risk that there was no time for us, and the chance that we would not be welcome. We were willing to take this risk … [Read more...] about Unannounced visits to slaughterhouses East Netherlands
Visit to new slaughterhouse Westfort
On December 20, 2016, we visited the new pig slaughterhouse Westfort in IJsselstein. Several of our recommendations to reduce animal suffering have been actioned. For example: the lairage is very large so pigs brought to the slaughterhouse can be unloaded immediately and do not have to wait outside in the truck, which is especially good when the weather conditions are very … [Read more...] about Visit to new slaughterhouse Westfort
EGO Pig Slaughterhouse in Germany gets started with advice EonA
Today, a team from Eyes on Animals visited a pig slaughterhouse near Osnabrück (Germany). Because the slaughterhouse is about to be renovated, our suggestions on how animal welfare could be improved can be directly included in the renovation plans. Also involved in this renovation is the German Friedrich Loeffler Institute, including the expert Dr. Marahrens, who was also … [Read more...] about EGO Pig Slaughterhouse in Germany gets started with advice EonA
Animal welfare improvements in slaughterhouse Thönes Natur
Today we visited the slaughterhouse Thönes Natur in Wachtendonk (DL) to witness a number of improvements that the company has made following our previous visit. We were accompanied by Marien Gerritzen (Wageningen University and Research) and Wouter Veerkamp (Meyn). Marien is an expert on animal welfare during transport and in slaughterhouses. Wouter Veerkamp works for … [Read more...] about Animal welfare improvements in slaughterhouse Thönes Natur
Weidemark purchased mobile fans and started plans for new shady parking area
In order to combat farm animals from suffering from the heat during transport in the summer, livestock transport companies and slaughterhouses must each do their part. The transport companies need to reduce the loading densities, avoid long journeys and avoid having animals on board during the peak temperatures of the day if they know they will have to sit and wait. But … [Read more...] about Weidemark purchased mobile fans and started plans for new shady parking area
