Dear donors, friends, and supporters,
A few years ago, I spoke at an animal welfare conference in England. Afterwards, I struck up a conversation with Liz, an anthropologist at the University of Cambridge. She asked if we could help her improve animal welfare in Mongolia, where she was conducting research at the time.
I didn't have to think about that for long. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Changes in Mongolia
Traditionally, the bond between nomadic herders and their animals is based on respect and reciprocity. But unfortunately, this is changing.
More and more families are moving to the city, where children often stay after their studies. As a result, the demand for meat is growing from the cities. The consequence: animals are being transported over increasingly long distances.
The animals' lives are often good: outdoors, in complete freedom, they can roam around. There are no fences or cages.
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 | | The life of many animals in Mongolia: free to go wherever they want. |
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The slaughterhouses, however, pose the problem. Many are old, with worn-out buildings, facilities, and equipment. But even newer slaughterhouses fall short. Knowledge regarding animal welfare, animal behavior, and correct stunning methods is often lacking.
Our visit to slaughterhouses
This month, the time had come. Eyes on Animals first gave a presentation at a conference in Ulaanbaatar and then went into the field. With great thanks to Liz and her colleague Enkhbat: they have strong contacts with the authorities and the Mongolian meat sector and made all this possible. Their goal: clear animal welfare standards for Mongolia. |
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 | | Eyes on Animals at the conference in Ulaanbaatar. |
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 | | Visitors to the conference. |
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After the conference, we first visited a nomadic shepherd family and witnessed the traditional slaughter.
What Roy and I saw there stood in stark contrast to the industrial slaughter we encounter so often in Europe. No shouting, no rushing, no chaos, no transport stress, and no rough handling.
The animal was killed, admittedly, but it was done with calm, care, and respect. |
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 | | Roy and I watch the nomadic slaughter. The handling of the sheep is calm and attentive. |
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We advised the use of captive bolt stunners so that unconsciousness is instantaneous. However, because handling is otherwise already so careful, our primary focus lies with industrial slaughterhouses — there is much more room for improvement there.
The industrial slaughterhouses
In Ulaanbaatar, we visited three commercial slaughterhouses where operations are conducted on a larger scale. |
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 | | Sheep and horses are now transported over longer distances to commercial slaughterhouses in the larger cities. |
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One slaughterhouse dated back to 1946 and was built at the time with support from East Germany. It had barely been modernized. We saw broken fences, dangerous holes in the floor, and no protection against rain, cold, or heat. Moreover, there were no proper unloading facilities, meaning animals sometimes had to jump out of the truck from great heights or be pushed down. |
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 | | Roy checks the electrical installation and I walk through the cattle drive corridor — both date from 1946. |
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Most concerning were the electrical devices used to 'stun' animals.
Although the managers were convinced that the electrical devices rendered the animals unconscious, something else actually happened: the animals were immobilized. All muscles cramp, preventing the animal from moving but leaving it fully conscious. This causes severe pain and stress. The animals are subsequently defenseless when the slaughter process begins. |
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 | | Cheap 'sedators' that do not actually sedate the animals, but inflict a lot of pain. |
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In newer slaughterhouses, too, we saw similar problems: painful immobilization instead of stunning, and animals being hoisted up alive by their legs.
Poor stunning equipment: a broader problem
. What we saw in Mongolia is not an isolated incident.
Since our visit to the World Halal Summit in Istanbul, it has become even clearer to us: many slaughterhouses believe they are stunning animals, while the equipment used actually increases suffering. Meanwhile, these cheap devices are available online everywhere. This must stop.
Action plan
The challenge is significant. There are dozens of slaughterhouses in Mongolia, and our team is small. But every animal we can spare from a long period of suffering is one less animal to suffer.
Moreover, there is reason for optimism. The companies are open to change. There is a budget and a willingness to learn.
During our visit, we explained how effective stunning works, which equipment is suitable, and where it is available. The first investment plans have already been drawn up.
In early May, a follow-up online meeting will take place with us, Liz, Enkhbat, representatives from various Mongolian slaughterhouses, and manufacturers of suitable equipment.
Later this year, Roy and I hope to return to provide practical on-site training.
A new beginning in Mongolia.
In the meantime, Liz, together with local partners, has established Mongolia's first official animal welfare organization to reduce the suffering of animals in slaughterhouses. Eyes on Animals will take a seat on the board.
That is an important and hopeful step forward. |
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Our visit also attracted the attention of the Mongolian media. An article about our work will soon appear in a trade journal widely read by nomadic herders and the meat industry.
Roy and I in conversation with a Mongolian journalist, with Liz as interpreter. |
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Concrete improvements with your support.
Without your support, and without Roy's dedication, we would not have been able to do this work. In just nine days, we laid the foundation for improvements that will reduce the suffering of a huge number of animals.
You enable us to be in the field — exactly where animals need us most — and to work on practical and concrete improvements.
Your support makes a difference for countless individuals.
Would you like to help us continue and expand this work in Mongolia? Then donate via the button below. |
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Thank you very much!
Kind regards, |
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Lesley Moffat
Director, Eyes on Animals |
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