Turkey | Bursa | First visit of Edemen slaughterhouse

Today the EonA/AWF team and Dr. Ellen Eser from BSI Schwarzenbek visit Edemen slaughterhouse in Bursa. The owner bought this slaughterhouse seven months ago. We spotted mainly the same problems as in most other Turkish slaughterhouses (no anti-mounting racks, bulls mounting each-other and falling down, slippery floors, open sides of raceway risking leg injury and causing the animals to be distracted thus hesitating to move forward, trip-floor box and live hoisting). However, the lairage area was better than most- it was clean and there was water available for all of the animals.

The owner and all the people working at the slaughterhouse were very friendly, open –minded and welcoming. They gave us the feeling that they are really interested in modernizing and improving animal welfare. In particular the owner, the veterinarian and the plant manager spent a lot time with us and wanted to know as much as possible about animal welfare improvements. The worker who was in charge of driving the animals forward did this in a very calm way without using too much force. Within the waiting area he separated bulls which were mounting each other continuously. Due to the slippery floor in the lairage area and the very long raceway to the slaughter-hall it was not easy to move the animals but still he remained calm and professional. The slaughter was mainly the same as in other slaughterhouses but at least they didn’t hoist the animals completely off the ground before cutting the throats. After cutting the animals they also waited approximately twenty seconds before hoisting the animal which is also better than most other plants we have been to in Turkey where they hoist right after making the cut. 
A lot of improvements still need to be made. The owner of the slaughterhouse accepted our offer to come to the Netherlands and Belgium to visit some slaughter plants there that we consider better, and to speak to a company that manufactures better restraining boxes. He wants to see the better ways to slaughter animals and wants to implement new equipment at his plant in Turkey. We are looking forward to his visit in Europe to see better practices together and to one day soon get concrete changes in his plant.