This afternoon we met with the owners of Westfort pig slaughterhouse in the Netherlands. Dr. Gerritzen, an animal-welfare researcher from Wageningen University and expert in measuring suffering at slaughter also joined us. The current Westfort pig plant will soon close and be replaced by a brand new slaughterhouse. The purpose of this meeting, the second one now, was to … [Read more...] about Meeting with owners of Westfort pig slaughterhouse, NL
Our inspections
Inspection of Elst horse market, NL
Two teams from Eyes on Animals visited this yearly horse for the first time early in the morning and this afternoon. Unfortunately during the inspection of the first team, between 4.30 and 7.30, neither the NVWA (Dutch government authorities) nor an extra veterinarian were present to be able to check on horses that looked sick and on horses with docked tails. In the … [Read more...] about Inspection of Elst horse market, NL
Visit of organic dairy farm near Barneveld, NL
As part of our Dairy Project ("Giving Milk a Good Shake- looking at alternative options in producing dairy") we visited another dairy farm today. This time an organic one located near Barneveld. Several years ago the farmer decided to try a new idea on his farm - of keeping the calves longer with their mothers instead of separating them right after birth. He did not have … [Read more...] about Visit of organic dairy farm near Barneveld, NL
Inspection of Purmerend calf market, NL
Today we made an unannounced visit to Purmerend calf market. It remains unfortunate that the current milk industry is based on separating calves from their mothers immediately after birth in order to keep the price of milk as low as possible, and then at only 2 weeks of age sending many of them to a market which adds further stress to these young and fragile animals. But … [Read more...] about Inspection of Purmerend calf market, NL
Inspection of Bemmel horse market, NL
Eyes on Animals visited this yearly market for the first time. Compared to similar horse markets this one stood out by its tranquility. It is also smaller. The music wasn’t loud , pleasant even, also for animals. The fair and the music that goes with it was a certain distance from the trade market and only started at 11 a.m. For the animals there was sufficient water and … [Read more...] about Inspection of Bemmel horse market, NL