Eyes on Animals observed the handling and slaughtering of pigs at Slachterij Boom in Erp, a medium-sized pig slaughterhouse in southern Holland. This is the first slaughterhouse where, during our unannounced visit, we did not observe any sick or injured pigs, or rough handling. However, the kill floor was full of blood as they hang and cut the stunned pigs directly above, … [Read more...] about Visit of a Dutch pig slaughterhouse
Our inspections
Visit of an organical pig farm in the Netherlands
Eyes on Animals visited an organic pig farm where pigs, including mother sows and their young, are housed in large outdoor shacks and given plenty of access to the outdoors to perform much desired natural behaviours, such as rooting, mud bathing, sunbathing, and nest building. The farmer was a lovely Dutch man who had seen this sytem while working in England and found the … [Read more...] about Visit of an organical pig farm in the Netherlands
Inspection of a livestock truck with new-born chicks
One of the surviving chicks, roughly a dozen died from the accident. While parked at a highway rest stop, Eyes on Animals investigators spot a truck with new-born "broiler" chicks loaded in cages. There are a dozen dead chicks and the cages are not stacked up properly but appear to have fallen. The driver explains to us that he forgot to attach a belt around … [Read more...] about Inspection of a livestock truck with new-born chicks
Follow-up inspection of three donkeys kept in undesirable living conditions
Eyes on Animals volunteer conducted a follow-up visit to the donkeys we inspected on February 9th. Despite the owner telling us back then that they would make a couple small improvements (removing the dividers between each pen, allowing the donkeys to better socialize and have more room), nothing had changed. All three donkeys were in the same housing environment as last … [Read more...] about Follow-up inspection of three donkeys kept in undesirable living conditions
Investigation into why so many piglets die every year
Eyes on Animals investigated into why there are so many piglets that die every year. We spoke to the rendering company about the extremely high figures. There are several explanations- stress (of the piglet but also of the confined nursing sows), bacterial infections from unhygenic conditions, and not enough nipples to provide for each piglet. Due to genetic selection … [Read more...] about Investigation into why so many piglets die every year