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VION Food Group VION Fresh Meat NL VION Fresh Meat DE VION Convenience VION UK Rendac Sonac Rousselot

Trade & Transport

The beef cattle farmer is an important link in the beef production chain. Indeed, the basis for quality lies in the farmyard. Beef offers a great deal of variety in comparison with the much more uniform pork. There are many different types of beef cattle and the animals also differ widely from one another. So, we distinguish between beef cattle and dairy cattle. VION Tilburg supplies meat of both qualities, geared specifically toward market requirements.

Dealers
For VION Tilburg to supply the correct number of beef cattle at the right time, in addition to its own employees professional dealers are also required. They act as a point of contact for the beef cattle farmers and bring together supply and demand. These dealers our people work in accordance with the quality regulations for the livestock trade (GHP code). The slaughter cattle hauliers meet the quality regulations for the transport of livestock (GTP code).

Quality regulations
The entire working practice of purchasing and transporting beef cattle is laid out in a manual within VION Fresh Meat West. It states what criteria and checks are applicable. Important checkpoints are the Identification and Registration numbers worn by beef cattle in their ears. Based on this, the origin of the animal and the course of its life can be examined. In this way the present whereabouts of each individual animal can always be traced, at any point in time.

Transport
The transportation of animals is important for quality, and for the health and welfare of the animal. Lorries used to transport the animals must satisfy quality requirements, checked by the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA). The rough floor of the lorry is covered with litter. Adjustable vents take care of the optimal temperature in the lorry. Travel time is limited as far as possible
Tranquillisers (agents to pacify the animals) are not permitted during transport. The drivers must follow compulsory training on the correct way of handling the animals.

Cleaning and disinfecting
The health of animals is an important precondition for healthy products. Every effort is therefore made in the beef production chain to prevent animal diseases. For this reason, immediately after the delivery of the animals the transport vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This is recorded. The VWA regularly checks this. In addition, VION Food Group performs inspections itself.