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HomeOur inspectionsmarket and collecting stations20.05.2010 Inspection of a livestock market in Belgium

20.05.2010 Inspection of a livestock market in Belgium

Eyes on Animals inspected Ciney market today, one of the largest markets left in Europe. Today there were 2500 cattle and several equines for sale. Positive aspects were the presence of water troughs in every loading bay, the fact that the animals were tied on properly (not around their horns or neck as is often the case at other markets) and that we did not observe any beating.

Negative points were that the floor of the main corridor is very slippery and several animals in very poor condition were present. We were very upset that they were approved on the market by the veterinarians, and worse, allowed to be sold and further transported to slaughterhouses afterwards.

Two adult cattle; a "culled" dairy cow and a large Belgian-blue bull  had had a hoof amputated, and as a result had seriously infected and swollen stumps . Blood and puss were dripping out. Both animals were not putting any weight on their injured leg and showed signs of suffering a lot. When the dealers tried to load the bull, he could barely walk and eventually fell down.

EU legislation states that only animals that can walk unassisted without pain be allowed to be transported, and therefore the veterinarian and market authorities should never have accepted these animals for sale but instead had them euthanized and the transporter and keeper fined.

As well, there was one calf that had crippled hind-legs  apparently from a lack of vitamin E. Although he did not seem in pain (he put pressure on all four legs), he did have trouble walking and one had to wonder if he could withstand transport without falling down. During loading, this poor animal fell down and was not able to get back up. Our report and photos are being sent to the Belgian and EU authorities as well as the market authorities. We will demand improvements and that measures be taken so that the veterinarian does not accept such animals again in the future.

 

 

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Markets and collecting stations

Farm animals are often sold and bought at livestock markets, or collected at stations where larger trucks come to pick them up later to transport them further. These places can be very stressful for animals, and are also unfortunately a great place for diseases to spread. Animals are brought in from many different places, unloaded from the truck, often weighed one at a time, and then rushed towards different pens where they are forced to wait for hours, sometimes without water, feed or bedding. Animals that were raised together, and even mothers and their offspring, can be separated. The animals are then reloaded onto new trucks with unfamiliar animals, which can cause fighting, and head to a new destination. Eyes on Animals regularly conducts unannounced visits of livestock markets and collecting stations in the Netherlands and Belgium. We check on conditions of the unloading equipment and pens and make sure that unfit animals are given a quiet area to rest, or if serious, immediately euthanized. We are in dialogue with the managers about providing water and bedding for the animals, milking females in lactation, and reducing any rough handling or other unnecessary causes of animal suffering.