During the July heat wave, Eyes on Animals visited various slaughterhouses in The Netherlands. At many of the slaughterhouses, we saw pigs with (severe) heat stress. The problems at VION Boxtel, one of the biggest pig slaughterhouses in the Netherlands, were the most severe. There were no fewer than 8 loaded pig trucks waiting in front of the slaughterhouse. Another 5 … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse VION Boxtel fails to prevent pigs suffering from heat stress
slaughterhouse design
Good measures against heat at poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Last summer Eyes on Animals made an unannounced visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet. Behind the slaughterhouse, GPS has a woody area where trucks can stand in the shade. There were several large fans next to the trucks. In the holding room, GPS has large fans with sprinklers - this allows the temperature to be brought down considerably in case of heat. GPS … [Read more...] about Good measures against heat at poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Visit to duck slaughterhouse Tomassen in Ermelo
Today our team visited duck slaughterhouse Tomassen in Ermelo. Tomassen is the only duck slaughterhouse in the Netherlands. The duck meat is largely exported to Western Europe. They also serve the Asian market. A small part goes to Dutch supermarkets and catering. At Tomassen, ducks are stunned with an electric water bath. There is a lot of discussion about this stunning … [Read more...] about Visit to duck slaughterhouse Tomassen in Ermelo
Flanders cattle slaughterhouse makes improvements after our visit: Part 2
On March 28 2018 we reported on the first improvements this plant had made in a Good News Part I. We have now received new news from Flanders- they have made further changes that we had recommended to them. At the time of our visit, their restraint box did not have a place to store the captive bolt stunners (which are used to render animals unconscious before cutting … [Read more...] about Flanders cattle slaughterhouse makes improvements after our visit: Part 2
Visit to poultry slaughterhouse Mieki in Hunsel
Today was very hot out so we brought an unannounced visit to to poultry slaughterhouse Mieki in Hunsel. Mieki is part of Van Miert in Breukelen. At the time of our visit (around 16:30) there was no more supply of chickens. We spoke briefly with a Mieki employee. He informed us that they stop the slaughter quite early in Hunsel. According to him, there were no problems with … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse Mieki in Hunsel
Visit to pig slaughterhouse Pali in Geldrop (NL)
Today we made an unannounced visit to the Pali pig slaughterhouse in Geldrop. When we arrived (13:45) there was no activity. The manager told us that because of the extreme heat all the pigs had already been taken inside before 12 noon. He explained that their pig trucks never have to wait outside the plant. Pali has their own transporters (no external transport companies) … [Read more...] about Visit to pig slaughterhouse Pali in Geldrop (NL)
Visit to pig slaughterhouse Van Rooi
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
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 poultry slaughterhouse Clazing in Zevenhuizen (NL)
Today we made an unannounced visit to Clazing poultry slaughterhouse in Zevenhuizen (NL) because of the extreme heat. Clazing is a slaughterhouse with Halal certification. The chickens are reversibly stunned with an electrical waterbath. The containers (with live chickens in it) are first tilted, then manually hung upside down by their legs. They are then dragged … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse Clazing in Zevenhuizen (NL)
