Today we made an unannounced visit to pig slaughterhouse Van Rooi in Helmond (NL) due to the recent extreme summer heat. We arrived around 12 noon, when the outside temperature had already reached 37 degrees Celsius in the sun and 33.5 degrees Celsius in the shade. Because the temperature in the shade is below 35 degrees Celsius the industries ‘heat protocol still allows … [Read more...] about Visit to pig slaughterhouse Van Rooi
pig slaughterhouse
Visit to Compaxo pig slaughterhouse in Zevenaar (NL)
Today we inspected Compaxo, a pig slaughterhouse in Zevenaar. Outside temperatures are 33 degrees Celsius in the shade and 37 degrees Celsius in the sun. Because the temperature is above 27 degrees Celsius the industry’s heat protocol is active. We are welcomed by two managers from Compaxo. They explain to us that the arrival of pigs is staggered over the course of the … [Read more...] about Visit to Compaxo pig slaughterhouse in Zevenaar (NL)
Visit to pig slaughterhouse VION in Boxtel during the heatwave
Because of the extreme heat we made an unannounced visit to slaughterhouse VION in Boxtel today. On arrival (10:45, 38 degrees Celsius) there were no less than 8 loaded pig trucks waiting in front of the slaughterhouse. The trucks were parked in direct sunlight. There were a few small fans and the asphalt was sprayed with water, however, these measures were inadequate to … [Read more...] about Visit to pig slaughterhouse VION in Boxtel during the heatwave
Visit to Westfort pig slaughterhouse in IJsselstein
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
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
