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)
slaughterhouses
Inspection on a hot day at Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
Today, Eyes on Animals was on the road again due to the extreme heat. In the afternoon, around 1:30 PM, we visited VION in Boxtel to check if, like the previous week, there were any stationary pig trucks waiting along the public road in the sun. Fortunately, this was not the case. There were also no trucks parked under the canopy. During our visit, one … [Read more...] about Inspection on a hot day at Vion pig slaughterhouse in Boxtel
USAID accompanies us on a follow-up inspection of Kumasi abattoir, Ghana
The WACPAW/EonA team returned to Kumasi abattoir again. Kumasi abattoir is a very large cattle, pig and goat abattoir in Ghana with on-going serious welfare problems. We trained the use of captive bolt stunners there several years ago, and have stunning implemented for the pigs, where they used to be clubbed repeatedly on their heads, but still downers are dragged, … [Read more...] about USAID accompanies us on a follow-up inspection of Kumasi abattoir, Ghana
Some animals now stunned first during “Sacrifice Festival” in Turkey
During many religious festivals, millions of animals suffer. Whether it be turkeys and chickens shackled upside down and then inadequately stunned in an electric water bath for Christmas or sheep being forced down on the ground (horribly scary for prey animals) and then having their throat cut open while fully conscious during the Sacrifice Festival. We all have … [Read more...] about Some animals now stunned first during “Sacrifice Festival” in Turkey
EonA gives speech at the Deutsche Bundestag (German Parliament) in Berlin
Asalet from Eyes on Animals is in Berlin. He has been asked to give a speech at the Deutsche Bundestag (the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany) about what happens to EU farm animals transported to Turkey and then slaughtered there. He is equipped with strong photos of our inspections with AWF at the EU/Turkey border and in all the Turkish abattoirs EonA has been … [Read more...] about EonA gives speech at the Deutsche Bundestag (German Parliament) in Berlin
Meat shop in Samsun (Turkey) equipped with stunner to use on lambs they slaughter
Today Eyes on Animalse met with the owner of Nebyan Meat company and the vet, Mr. Ali. Professor Dr. Duygu Dalgın (director of Acisiz Kesim ngo in Turkey) is also present. Nebyan Meat supports the idea of pre-stunning animals for halal as animals suffer much less when first rendered unconscious. They want to use captive bolt stunning to its full extent. Today we gave them … [Read more...] about Meat shop in Samsun (Turkey) equipped with stunner to use on lambs they slaughter
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
Hosted BSI to see improvements we made in automatic electric-stunning so that CO2 of pigs can be phased out
Today we invited BSI Schwarzenbek (German Training Institute for Animal Welfare during Transport and Slaughter) to join us on a follow-up inspection of a pig slaughterhouse that we have improved. Over the last 3 years major changes were made as part of our efforts to make automatic electric stunning finally a viable alternative to CO2 stunning that we are trying to phase … [Read more...] about Hosted BSI to see improvements we made in automatic electric-stunning so that CO2 of pigs can be phased out
Animal-welfare meeting at Küresel abattoir in Turkey
We met with a representative from the Turkish national animal-welfare NGO Haytap. Her name is Mrs. Ayten Tokgöz. Together we drove to the Küresel Et slaughterhouse. Here, we met with the state veterinarians and those working in the slaughterhouse. We provided on-site training on how to reduce some of the suffering during restraint and slaughter and how to render animals … [Read more...] about Animal-welfare meeting at Küresel abattoir in Turkey
First visit to Taşköprü slaughterhouse, Turkey
This afternoon we visited Taşköprü slaughterhouse. It's a small abattoir that slaughters just two or three cattle a week. They have a good anti-slip unloading ramp- the animals do not have to climb up or down a steep ramp and no risk of slipping. The restraint box is illuminated from above with light, instead of being really dark as in many other plants. Cattle do not see … [Read more...] about First visit to Taşköprü slaughterhouse, Turkey
