All infected mink farms have been culled this week. Our province involves eleven companies, including that of Rinus Janssen from Landhorst. He looks back on a very tough week.
Visibly excited, Rinus walks through his empty stables. A few days ago, there were still 5,500 minks with four or five young each. “It is a big drama. The puppies should have been here. But now it is completely empty and quiet. Now that I am here, the blow really comes.”
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Watch the story of Rinus in his empty stables here:
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Tuesday the company of Rinus was cleared. To his great surprise, his animals were found to be infected with the coronavirus. “Two mink farms in the street were already infected. But my animals were barely noticeable. I wasn’t sick myself.”
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Tears shed
The blow was huge when he was told that the animals had to be culled. Clearing started early on Tuesday morning. And that was hard for Rinus. “It’s one of the darkest days in my life. I’ve worked on my business with heart and soul for 38 years. And now it’s gone in a few days. I’ve shed some tears.”
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Support and help
After the clearance of his own company, it was not yet ready for Rinus. Throughout the week, he helped clean up his colleagues’ contaminated businesses. In Landhorst, where a total of four mink farms were found to be infected. But also beyond. Rinus explains: “I think I have helped on six companies. We support and help each other and I am very grateful for that.”
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Friday morning, Rinus was still clearing up at a company in Limburg. That is the last one for the time being. But Rinus fears that it is not ready yet. “I think I can expect some phone calls from companies that need to be cleared up soon. Because I don’t think we’re there yet.”
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Criticism
Rinus and his fellow mink farmers have received a lot of criticism recently. “I have thick skin. But now we got curses like ‘I hope you get corona yourself’ or ‘get a tumor’. That cut it off.”
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Some people also find it hypocritical that the mink farmers mourn during the culls, while eventually killing the animals for their fur. Rinus explains: “This normally happens in November, with adult minks. But these are puppies. It is terrible for us mink farmers to have to kill those young animals.”
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Future
The culled companies will remain empty for a few months to ensure that the virus is no longer present. And from 2024, keeping minks is prohibited anyway. Most parties in the House of Representatives therefore do not want mink farms to fill their stables again after culling. Still, Rinus hopes to have full houses again next year. “Yes, I really hope so. But it’s up to politics. I think it will be very difficult.”
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