This late afternoon the team from WACPAW and Eyes on Animals visited a second large pig farm in the Eastern Region of Accra in Ghana. The pigs at this farm were not very healthy. Many were emaciated and had serious wounds from ear biting. A number of pigs were also seriously lame and sick. One sow even had a broken spine from trying to turn around in her Made in China … [Read more...] about Pokrom pig farm and slaughter slab, Eastern Region Accra, Ghana
slaughterhouse design
Training use of a stunner at a cattle slaughterhouse in Bilecik, Turkey
Today Eyes on Animals gave a training course on the advantage of using stunners to a slaughterhouse in Bilecik, Turkey. Normally the cattle here have their throats cut while restrained upright in a rotating box and are then turned onto their backs. The suffering is horrible as the animals are fully conscious, thus they feel all the excruciating pain of the cut through deep … [Read more...] about Training use of a stunner at a cattle slaughterhouse in Bilecik, Turkey
A look at the changes that were made at duck slaughterhouse Tomassen Duck-To
Today we paid a visit to duck slaughterhouse Tomassen Duck-To in Ermelo (NL). Tomassen had made a few changes which they wanted to show us. On the lairage ceiling and along the walls, misting fans had been installed. Tomassen told us this makes the indoor waiting area considerably cooler during the summer months. The fans were installed after the NVWA (the Dutch food … [Read more...] about A look at the changes that were made at duck slaughterhouse Tomassen Duck-To
Online meeting with Temple Grandin at Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
Today we had an online meeting with a team from Gosschalk, the developers of the ‘Argus VCA camera-system’ and Dr. Temple Grandin. We wanted Temple Grandin’s recommendations on the handling and design in Gosschalk, where both cattle and pigs are slaughtered, to see if stress and fear could be further reduced. Temple Grandin is a well-known ethologist and expert on how to … [Read more...] about Online meeting with Temple Grandin at Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
Visit of poultry Plukon slaughterhouse in Goor (NL)
Today we visited Plukon poultry slaughterhouse in Goor, where 175,000 broilers are slaughtered per day. The broilers stay in their transport containers from the moment of arrival until their death; they do not have to be taken out of the containers manually or mechanically (tilting) when still alive. In many slaughterhouses this still happens, causing a lot of fear and … [Read more...] about Visit of poultry Plukon slaughterhouse in Goor (NL)
Visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse in Beringe (NL)
Today we paid an announced visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse. Van der Linden took time out of their busy schedule to show us the process from beginning to end, and to answer all our questions. In the lairage, big fans with water-misters had been fitted on the ceiling. There were also fans on the floor. The water-misters help cool the air. However, in … [Read more...] about Visit to Van der Linden poultry slaughterhouse in Beringe (NL)
Gosschalk continues to improve animal welfare 
After Gosschalk was forced to shut down by NVW authority due to undercover footage exposing serious animal welfare issues, they have responded by implementing several improvements. Although we were hesitant to help at first (for years Gosschalk did not allow us in) after a few meetings with the director and the newly appointed welfare supervisor, we have the impression … [Read more...] about Gosschalk continues to improve animal welfare 
Meeting with VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel about recent problems during the heat wave
Today, we had a meeting with VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel. We requested the meeting because of the welfare problems that occurred last weeks during the hot weather. We would like to know Vion’s plans going forward and provide them with our own suggestions to avoid repeat suffering: Fewer pigs arriving at the slaughterhouse, or better still, no pigs arriving at the … [Read more...] about Meeting with VION pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel about recent problems during the heat wave
Unannounced visit to Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
Today we visited Gosschalk in Epe (NL) where Eyes on Animals has permission to inspect without notice. Due to the vacation period there were relatively few people present and fewer pigs being slaughtered but the staff still made time for us immediately. First, we looked at footage from the smart-camera system, ‘Argus’, taken on a sweltering day the week before. … [Read more...] about Unannounced visit to Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe (NL)
EonA and WACPAW visit pig slaughterhouse Feenstra in Drachten (NL)
Today, together with Safian Abdul Rahman (director of the Ghanaian organisation WACPAW), we visited slaughterhouse Feenstra in Drachten (NL). Feenstra is a small slaughterhouse where pigs are calmly handled and manually stunned in their group. Because of this, stress is kept to a minimum. We wanted to show this to Safian so he could take this knowledge back to Ghana. … [Read more...] about EonA and WACPAW visit pig slaughterhouse Feenstra in Drachten (NL)
