Today we visited the new cattle slaughterhouse in Leeuwarden from the company Vion. The plant had received consultation before building it on animal-behaviour and the latest design tips and equipment available to lairage, herd, restrain and slaughter cattle. After all the horrors we have seen at cattle plants in Ghana and Turkey and some in Europe, we were relieved to … [Read more...] about Vion cattle slaughterhouse, Leeuwarden, NL
slaughterhouse design
Visit of Pali pig slaughterhouse, Geldrop (NL)
Today we inspected Pali pig slaughterhouse. We were here during the heat wave last summer to see if there was a long line-up or not. We were pleased to see that pigs did not have to wait long before being unloaded, mostly because Pali runs their own logistics and trucks, and thus can coordinate arrival times easily. Today we were asked to come back to check on the entire … [Read more...] about Visit of Pali pig slaughterhouse, Geldrop (NL)
Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Today Eyes on Animals visited poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet. Various animal welfare measures had been implemented. There was blue light in the lairage. It is known that this has a calming effect on the chickens. The lairage can be cooled by means of fans with a misting system. Outside the abattoir there is a woody area where trucks can be in the shade … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Animal welfare improvements at Tomassen duck slaughterhouse
After Eyes on Animals visited Tomassen duck slaughterhouse, they have made some in-house changes to reduce suffering. Tomassen uses an electric waterbath to stun the ducks before slaughter. Before stunning ducks are shackled alive manually. On our recommendation Tomassen closed a gap underneath the shackle-line where the ducks sometimes got stuck with their beaks. The … [Read more...] about Animal welfare improvements at Tomassen duck slaughterhouse
Tamale slaughterhouse – serious animal suffering
We continue to see serious mistreatment and suffering of animals at Tamale slaughterhouse in Ghana, with no real hope in sight. Despite some of the butchers participating in the EonA and WACPAW training on humane handling in 2017, we continued this year to observe animals being dragged and beaten into this slaughterhouse. They are left for hours if not days without water. … [Read more...] about Tamale slaughterhouse – serious animal suffering
Four slaughterhouses in Ghana now use captive bolt stunners
Previously, animals at Kumasi pig slaughterhouse, Kumais cattle slaughterhouse, Cape Coast commercial and Cape Coast campus abattoirs in Ghana used to be slaughtered by having their necks slit while fully conscious. Together with WACPAW, we have started an education program in Ghana on animal-welfare. We explain the important of rendering animals unconscious prior to … [Read more...] about Four slaughterhouses in Ghana now use captive bolt stunners
Tamale slaughterhouse, Ghana
Very disappointing news on our last day in Ghana : after one week of achieving significant improvements, today we hit a brick wall. The Board Members overseeing Tamale cattle slaughterhouse had confirmed to us yesterday that they understood the science and welfare advantages of pre-stunning animals before cutting their throats and wanted to modernize. They accepted our … [Read more...] about Tamale slaughterhouse, Ghana
Animal-welfare workshop for pig butchers at UDS campus slaughterhouse, Tamale, Ghana
Today we gave a training in humane handling to pig butchers in the region of Tamale. It was held at the UDS campus abattoir. Last year we had given a training here too, to agricultural students and the slaughter-men of this abattoir. Since we donated a captive bolt pistol and cartridges to them last year, all animals are being stunned before slaughter at UDS, instead of … [Read more...] about Animal-welfare workshop for pig butchers at UDS campus slaughterhouse, Tamale, Ghana
Kumasi cattle and pig slaughterhouses, Ghana
Today we arrived at 5am at Kumasi slaughterhouse and first checked on the section where pigs are slaughtered. Pigs were grabbed from the lairage area and thrown, literally, over the gates. They fell hard on to the ground. They are then chased towards the kill area, which is full of old broken equipment (leftover from when a Canadian government organization had helped them … [Read more...] about Kumasi cattle and pig slaughterhouses, Ghana
Training on how to reduce suffering during slaughter in Cape Coast, Ghana
In Ghana, like most African countries, animals are not stunned before having their throats cut. Captive bolts or other stunning equipment is not available there or known. Today we (Eyes on Animals and WACPAW) gave a training course to 20 slaughtermen and agricultural students about the importance of rendering animals unconscious before slaughter in order to reduce some of … [Read more...] about Training on how to reduce suffering during slaughter in Cape Coast, Ghana
