Today (31°C in the shade, 35°C in the sun), we visited Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond. Although the afternoon shift was canceled due to the heat, which is a positive step, it remained very busy until at least 4:00 PM. There were as many as nine trucks, loaded with pigs, waiting under the canopy. Waiting times extended to an hour or more. Even though no pigs were … [Read more...] about Heat stress inspection at Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond (NL)
pig slaughterhouse
Inspection of welfare of pigs waiting at Vion abattoir in Boxtel, NL
It is hot and humid out so EonA was in the field to check on pigs arriving at Vion in Boxtel. The good news is that the canopy Vion built around six years ago is continually improving. They've added another screen to block the sun's rays on the other side, as well as set up extra fans and water-misters. They've also set up a large digital billboard to remind the … [Read more...] about Inspection of welfare of pigs waiting at Vion abattoir in Boxtel, NL
Vet Record journal publishes articles about EonA’s improvements to electric stunning so that abattoirs can move away from CO2 gas
Our innovative re-design of automatic electric pig stunning and improvement of handling procedures in order to enable the quick phasing out of painfulCO2 stunning, have been published in Vet Record. Vet Record is a respected veterinary journal published by the British Veterinary Association (BVA). These articles appeared after Vet Record attended our presentation at … [Read more...] about Vet Record journal publishes articles about EonA’s improvements to electric stunning so that abattoirs can move away from CO2 gas
Training presentation for Japanese Meat Technology Institute and Japanese pig abattoirs on how to improve electric stunning (and avoid CO2)
Eyes on Animals met with delegates from JAMTI (Japan Meat Technology Institute), university researchers and several managers from pig abattoirs in Japan to discuss how pig slaughter could be improved so that suffering and stress are decreased. The focus of our presentation was on a project we carried out at making high-through put automatic electric stunning much more … [Read more...] about Training presentation for Japanese Meat Technology Institute and Japanese pig abattoirs on how to improve electric stunning (and avoid CO2)
Follow-up visit to Ampomaa pig farm and slaughter slab
Today a team from WACPAW/EonA conducted a follow-up visit at Ampomaa pig farm and slaughter-slab. This was the place where we were last year to teach them how to use captive bolt stunners and to give them a captive bolt stunner. We do this so that we can bring an end to the pigs being clubbed to death. The guys at the farm are now stunning each pig first, to render them … [Read more...] about Follow-up visit to Ampomaa pig farm and slaughter slab
Day 2: Training employees and improving automatic electric stunning of pigs as a more humane alternative to CO2
EonA team members Madelaine, Kees, Jan and Lesley finishing up a 2-day training of all employees working at a pig slaughter plant. Together with the help of Temple Grandin and the open- attitude of this plant we got major improvements in place over the past 3 years. This plant did not want to switch to CO2 gas because of its aversive effect but wanted to see if electric … [Read more...] about Day 2: Training employees and improving automatic electric stunning of pigs as a more humane alternative to CO2
Training employees and improving automatic electric stunning of pigs as a more humane alternative to CO2
Today we were busy all day giving welfare trainings to small groups of employees of a large pig slaughterhouse. Tomorrow we will return as 50 employees in total are participating. We worked with this slaughterhouse for the past 3 years to drastically improve the design of automated electric pig stunning and the way pigs are moved through it, in an effort to help phase out … [Read more...] about Training employees and improving automatic electric stunning of pigs as a more humane alternative to CO2
Visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Groenlo (NL) on a hot day
Due to the warm weather (26°C), Eyes on Animals conducted an unannounced visit to the VION slaughterhouse in Groenlo, where finishing pigs and sows are slaughtered. We were given permission to immediately observe the stationary trucks waiting on their premises and the unloading process. Unfortunately, the waiting time was really long: the pigs on board had to wait 2-2.5 … [Read more...] about Visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Groenlo (NL) on a hot day
Visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel to check on the waiting times
Today we made an unannounced visit to VION in Boxtel. As witnessed by EonA in previous years we saw, many pig-trucks parked up along the public road. VION in Boxtel has a lairage but it is too small for the number of pigs they slaughter each hour, the pigs are left waiting until there is space available. This is a very undesirable situation at any time of the year but it … [Read more...] about Visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel to check on the waiting times
Visit to pig slaughterhouse Van Rooi for animal welfare advice
Today we visited Van Rooi pig slaughterhouse in Helmond. After a tour of the slaughterhouse we came together to brainstorm on how we could reduce stress during loading, unloading and whilst moving the pigs through the raceways. No more mixing Van Rooi is currently experimenting keeping the pigs in small social groups. Previously, there would be about 30 pigs in one … [Read more...] about Visit to pig slaughterhouse Van Rooi for animal welfare advice
