Today, the committee on "welfare improvement in pig slaughter” met for the first time. The committee includes: Two scientific experts on stunning, a veterinarian specializing in pigs and their behavior, a technical expert on slaughter lines, an animal welfare manager from a large pig slaughterhouse and Eyes on Animals. Reasons for the committee Many pigs in … [Read more...] about First meeting of committee “welfare improvement at pig slaughter”
slaughterhouse design
Six (Halal) slaughterhouses in Turkey now stun animals prior to slaughter
Since 2013 Eyes on Animals has been working hard at improving slaughterhouses in Turkey. Several plants were keen to work with us and made improvements, such as making the floors anti-slip, installing water troughs in the waiting pens, making the walls of the raceway solid… But what was a much more challenging improvement to get in place was getting the animals rendered … [Read more...] about Six (Halal) slaughterhouses in Turkey now stun animals prior to slaughter
pH of meat improved by 0.2 after Westfort improves animal-welfare
Last spring Eyes on Animals together with Dr. Kees Scheepens helped Westfort pig slaughterhouse develop a “Plan-of-Action” to significantly reduce animal-stress inside their plant. Westfort pig slaughterhouse started by intensively training their personnel on animal-welfare and how to carry out their specific tasks optimally. Each employee was then evaluated to be sure … [Read more...] about pH of meat improved by 0.2 after Westfort improves animal-welfare
Combating heat stress at Westfort pig slaughterhouse
A covered parking lot has been built at Westfort pig slaughterhouse so that trucks waiting in line to unload pigs can do so in the shade. This will help decrease the risk of heat stress for the animals stuck on board the waiting trucks. The covered parking lot can accommodate 3-4 trucks. Fans and water misters have been installed along the roof as well, to reduce the … [Read more...] about Combating heat stress at Westfort pig slaughterhouse
Follow-up check on Westfort pig slaughterhouse, NL
After Animal Rights released undercover footage from inside Westfort slaughterhouse last year, Eyes on Animals together with Dr. Kees Scheepens met with the managers of the plant and those responsible for quality to encourage them to take steps to reduce animal stress. They too were eager to make improvements. At the time, we walked through the slaughterhouse together, … [Read more...] about Follow-up check on Westfort pig slaughterhouse, NL
Training and testing at large European pig slaughterhouse – Phase 2
Today we returned to the European pig slaughterhouse that reached out for help so that we could continue testing out ways to reduce some of the stress the animals experience in their plant. We were pleased that they had been busy with construction and had made many improvements to the corridor and tunnel. The light from the windows that had been creating reflections … [Read more...] about Training and testing at large European pig slaughterhouse – Phase 2
Meeting with the management of a large and important slaughterhouse
Today, EonA had a meeting with the management of an important pig slaughterhouse operating on the European market. The purpose was to discuss how to optimize the slaughtering process using electric stunning.This slaughterhouse makes very well-founded use of electric stunning. Eyes on Animals also has a preference for electric stunning when slaughtering pigs instead of the … [Read more...] about Meeting with the management of a large and important slaughterhouse
Visit at VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Today, we paid a surprise visit to VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel. The purpose of this visit was to see what measures had been taken to prevent or reduce heat stress in pigs arriving at the slaughterhouse. Many measures had been taken to lower the temperature for the trucks waiting in front of the slaughterhouse: a canopy provided shade, industrial fans were in place … [Read more...] about Visit at VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Visit to poultry slaughterhouse Plukon in Goor during heat
Due to today’s high temperatures we paid a surprise visit to Plukon poultry slaughterhouse in Goor . We received a warm welcome from the quality manager and we discussed the measures Plukon is taking to reduce heat stress in poultry. We also took a brief look at the trucks as they arrived on site. The air is cooled with water (honeycomb) in the lairage. This … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse Plukon in Goor during heat
Visit to pig slaughterhouse VION Apeldoorn during the heat
Today we carried out an unannounced inspection at VION slaughterhouse in Apeldoorn because of the tropical weather. It was around 31°C in the shade and 37°C in the sun, with an air humidity of around 30%. We observed a waiting truck, visited the lairage and talked to the company manager about measures to combat heat stress. VION Apeldoorn had … [Read more...] about Visit to pig slaughterhouse VION Apeldoorn during the heat
