Cows limping on three legs, with wounds and abscesses on their hooves, or with swollen hock and knee joints "the size of a melon." Cows with open wounds on their udders, "a hand's width large" and "smelling of pus." These are abuses reported by NVWA inspectors in slaughterhouses for spent dairy cows. Although the images speak for themselves, this is just the tip of the iceberg. A very large portion of the slaughtered dairy cows experience pain while walking, as we observed in various investigations. Yet the NVWA issued fewer than 150 fines in 2024. These fines then appear to have little effect.

From requested inspection documents, it appears that the NVWA in 2024 drew up nearly 150 'reports of findings' and 'penalty notices' against farmers, traders, and transporters who transported severely lame and sick animals to slaughter. ^[1] Dozens of cows hobbled off the trucks, gritting their teeth in pain – with abscesses and open wounds on their hooves, or with thick swollen and inflamed leg joints. Many of these animals were severely emaciated: due to pain and illness, they barely ate or drank anymore. Their ribs and hip bones were clearly visible under the skin. Some cows remained lying in the truck, too sick and too weak to respond when transporters tried to drive them out of the vehicle.

Video footage also shows cows with severe udder infections. They have large and deep wounds on the udder, from which pus and blood drip. An inspector spoke of a "rotting smell": the wound tissue of the udder was dying.

Some cows showed combinations of welfare problems: they were transported with inflamed joints and swollen udders. Inspectors describe how loading and unloading, the movements of the vehicle during turns, accelerating, braking, and bumps in the road make the journey to slaughter extra painful for lame and sick animals.