HOW DO WE WORK

When a potential client contacts us, we first need to know whether and under what conditions export of live cattle is permitted to the country in question. There must be an agreement regarding the veterinary requirements between exporting and importing country. If such a certificate does not (yet) exist, negotiations with the veterinary authorities of the country concerned must be initiated. Deliveries within the EC will always be according the existing EC-certificate.

The moment a commercial agreement has been reached, the method of selecting the livestock must be decided. There are various options:

Selection ‘at the farm’; the buyer or his representative visits farms of origin with one of our purchasers and selects the desired livestock on their home farm.
Selection ‘in export-barn’; if the client has bought livestock from us in the past and in view of the time involved in visiting farms, the client may instruct our purchasers to make the initial purchase and make a final choice of the pre-selected cattle ‘in stall’.
Regular importers often choose to delegate the selection process to us. Such clients have generally been with us for many years and because we know their requirements, our purchasers take full responsibility for the purchase, working on the basis of trust.

Once all the details regarding veterinary requirements, delivery time and selection method are clear, the purchase of the cattle will start. Firma Dekker will buy the cattle directly from the farms of origin, without intervention of a herd book or local trading company.

Once the selection has been finished, all the data relating to the purchased livestock is collected and entered into our computer system. At the same time, the official export certificates of the purchased cattle are requested from the herd book. If the details do not correspond with the details provided, the sale may be cancelled. Depending on any blood tests and/or other quarantine requirements, a schedule is drawn up for the transport of the animals to the export collection site.

In case of pregnant animals they are checked for pregnancy by an official veterinarian. Unless otherwise agreed, the animals should be pregnant in accordance with the data provided. Deviations may result in cancellation of the sale. If required by the client and/or the importing country, all other treatments like vaccinations, blood tests, clipping, etc. are carried out in the export facility.

When animals are transported to foreign countries, they’re always accompanied by a veterinary certificate. This certificate generally gives a description of the veterinary status of the country and farm of origin, and is issued and signed by an official of the veterinary service in the country of origin.

After certification, the cattle are loaded in specially equipped trucks. If the animals are being transported outside the EU, the trucks are weighed and sealed for customs. Within the EU there is free traffic so customs declarations are not required.

Within the EU, livestock is transported solely by truck. Outside the EU, other means of transport may be used:

Ferry: the truck drives on and off the ferry to bring the animals to their destination.
Livestock vessel: cargo boats specially designed for livestock which transport them to the port of destination, where they are then loaded back onto a truck and transported further.
Aeroplane: countries not accessible by truck or ship can only be accessed by air. The speed of this transport is another factor making air travel a good alternative to a cattle boat. The disadvantage are the costs.

TRANSPORT BY TRUCK

Transportation of pregnant heifers from the exportstable in The Netherlands to our customer in Greece

During transport and in consultation with the client, the animals may be insured until a maximum of 30 days after arrival. This allows the client to take possession of the livestock as agreed and the animals can become acclimatised to their new environment, where they can look forward to a long and productive life.

TRANSPORT BY AIR

Pregnant heifers from The Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates

Pregnant heifers from The United States to Saudi Arabia