advertentie
advertentieIt is indeed possible to catch and transport broilers, laying hens, parent stock, and ducks to the slaughterhouse without them sustaining injuries. This is evidenced by a compliance measurement by the NVWA. In May of this year, inspectors checked at 16 slaughterhouses how often injuries occurred in poultry. In almost 10% of the samples, no injuries were found.
The NVWA inspected a total of 91 flocks of poultry. A flock is all the animals from one barn. In 77 flocks, less than 1% of the inspected animals were found to have injuries. In 8 flocks, the injury percentage was between 1 and 2%. In the remaining 6 flocks, it was over 2% of the animals. This accounts for 6.6% of the total. These inspection results have been shared with representatives of the poultry sector.
Supervision
Veterinarians from the NVWA check in slaughterhouses based on the color and size of bruises on the wings, legs, and body to determine if animals have been injured. By counting this specific type of injury, inspectors know that it occurred in the last 12 hours before slaughter. Since 2024, the NVWA has imposed fines on poultry farmers and catching teams if more than 1% of the animals in a flock were found to have injuries. Until 2024, the enforcement threshold was set at 2% injury.
In a compliance measurement in 2017, the NVWA found that 27% of Dutch flocks of poultry had more than 2% of the animals injured. Due to enforcement and the efforts of several chain partners, injuries have significantly decreased in recent years. The frontrunners in the sector demonstrate that it is also possible to reduce injuries to 0. This can be achieved by providing sufficient care and attention to the animals during catching and transport.
Enforcement
The court recently ruled that the NVWAs assessment method does not sufficiently prove that the injuries occurred solely during catching. They could also have happened during transport or at the slaughterhouse. Because it is not clear when the animal was injured, the NVWA cannot determine who should be fined for the violation.
Millions of animals are still injured each year during their final life stage. Therefore, the NVWA is investigating how to more effectively supervise welfare issues in poultry that arise in the chain. The NVWA will also continue to monitor injuries and discuss them with sector representatives.
All inspection results from the compliance measurement can be read on the NVWA website.
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