Cattle farming

Cattle farming in the Netherlands has two branches: dairy farming and beef farming. Within beef farming we distinguish between red, rosé and white beef farming. Here the first category relates to full-grown animals, and the last two to calves. In total there are around 3.8 million cattle in the Netherlands. These are mainly for dairy farming.

Rosé and white beef cattle refer to calves that come from Dutch dairy farming and from abroad. Red beef cattle farming makes far less use of calves from dairy farming. It usually buys animals from specific meat-type breeds such as Limousin, Charolais and Blonde d’Aquitaine when they are approximately 8 months old. These are weanlings. These weanlings mainly come from abroad.
Cattle farming in North West Europe has undergone major change in recent decades. This has to do with the milk quota, policy on manure and European subsidy policy. In the Netherlands, however, there has been reasonable stability for a number of years in terms of the numbers of beef cattle. Expansion is always debated.

The VION site in Tilburg processes animals from dairy farming and from red beef cattle farming.

Collaboration along the chain
Food safety and traceability are of paramount importance to us. This requires collaboration with reliable, professional partners in the chain, such as the beef cattle farmers and the dealers. Almost all of them are Dutch companies who operate in accordance with the Integrated Chain Control (IKB) quality system. This IKB system covers and controls the whole cattle sector. Right from the cattle farmer through to the requirements for vets, feed suppliers and hauliers.

Tracing
Each cow bears a so-called I&R number (Identification & Registration number) in both ears. Each animal has a unique number. Each animal movement is recorded. Using the I&R number we are able to trace the origin and history of each cow.