On this relatively small blood farm, blood is extracted today from 60 mares in three restraint boxes, which takes three hours in total. The mares are restrained in the boxes with a belt over their backs so that they cannot rear up. Their heads are pulled up by a rope and fixed to one side of the box. Then, a large-bore cannula is inserted into…

Video footage obtained on a large blood farm with six restraint boxes shows the everyday treatment of blood mares during blood extraction. The entire procedure, lasting three hours in total, is stressful for the semi-wild horses.

The mares and foals are herded from the pasture to the blood collection site with honking cars, shouting people and…

The atmosphere during our inspections at the cattle market in Bodzentyn is very unpleasant this month. We observe farmers who are trying to sell the same animals (mainly claves) since weeks. The farmers are complaining about very low prices. Therefore, they prefer to take the animals back home instead of selling them for cheap. Our team is being…

This month, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team starts their work by trimming the hooves of two young horses in Rzepin. Since the owner has been eagerly practising with his horses to pick up their legs, the trimming of the hooves goes very smoothly this time.

Next, our team is driving to Sniadka. There, a horse was diagnosed with scabies – a skin…

There is a suspicion that livestock carriers could be used for drug smuggeling. The Guardian reports:  

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In July, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team is very busy again. We are starting our work by visiting two farms in Szerzawy. On the first farm, we notice that the owner did install many stable improvements since our last visit. He fixed one of the stable doors and whitened the walls. As a reward we trim hooves of his mare. On the next farm, we are…

Our team is inspecting the cattle market in Bodzentyn. Lately, mainly young cattle are being brought to the market for sale. During all our inspection days, the number of animals remains low and does not exceed 150 animals. The animals that we see are all in good condition. There are no animal welfare violations to report.

Our team encounters a…

At the beginning of July, our team is on investigation in Kapikule, the Turkish side of the EU's external border. Another team is stationed on the Bulgarian side of the border. During the next days, our team will inspect live transports from the EU en route to Turkey. This time, we are accompanied by the EU politicians, Anja Hazekamp and Tilly…

Investigation Day 1 – 30. June 2021 

Today, our team arrives in the Bulgarian village Kapitan Andreevo. The village is located on the EU's external border with Turkey. During our investigation the temperatures are supposed to rise above 30°C. According to the EU regulation 1/2005 it is forbidden to transport animals in extreme weather. Our teams…