VION Cattle

VION Cattle oversees beef farmers in the purchase and sale of beef cattle, and also provides support in the purchase and sale of calves and breeding-cattle and mediation in purchased and lease milk. In this way VION Cattle provides a full range of services to beef farmers

 


 


Slaughter cattle
VION Cattle daily organises cattle transportation from the whole of the Netherlands to the modern production site of VION Tilburg. Here we process 3,500 head of beef cattle a week. The beef goes mainly to Dutch retail clients.
VION Tilburg also has a few large European clients.

Animals quickly leave the plant by daily transport as required.
The beef cattle are classified in our abattoir by an independent organisation (CBS) according to weight and SEUROP classification. Payment is made five days after delivery.

Beef comes from cows and bulls. The different qualities depend on breed and age. Most beef originates from the Dutch cow. Bulls are kept especially for their meat.


Calves
VION Cattle brings calves together at three locations in the Netherlands. Calves are brought together at professional calf centres that meet the legal requirements. Due to the large quantities we are able to put in place uniform links. VION Cattle weighs each calf individually. We classify the young animals according to a defined system. VION Cattle is also responsible for the acceptance and supply of young calves (at least 11 weeks olds).

Calves are subdivided into suckling calves and young calves.

Suckling calves are newly born calves. They are suckling whilst they only drink milk and are not as yet given any other feed. This occurs in the first eight to ten weeks. By far the majority of calves are born at dairy farms. Only heifer calves that are suitable to become dairy cows in future remain in the dairy farm. The other calves go to specialised veal farmers, when they are between 14 and a maximum of 35 days old. Here the calves are reared until they reach an age at which they are slaughtered for meat. A calf may not otherwise leave the farm where it was born until it is 14 days old and has been registered in the Identification and Registration system for at least 10 days. This is the system that maintains a record of the whereabouts and movements of all beef cattle in the Netherlands. This so-called 10 day regulation prevents very young calves from being moved around.

Young calves are at least 11 weeks old. These calves no longer drink milk, but receive solid feed in the form of hay and pellets free access to water. The young calves go to veal farmers, who are neither equipped nor wish to look after calves during the period that they are milk-drinking.


Breeding livestock and productive livestock in the Netherlands
VION Cattle employees operate throughout the Netherlands. They are in close contact with our farm suppliers and understand the important issues within the sector. This knowledge of issues and of the national network increases opportunities for the purchase and sale of breeding and productive livestock.

Breeding-cattle are cattle intended specifically for dairy farming, in the Netherlands or abroad. These may be older cows already in milk, as well as younger animals yet to start lactation. The young animals are called "pinken" (young cattle of around a year to a year and a half) or "heifers" (young cows under 2 years of age). A heifer starts to produce milk once it has had its first calf. It will then be at least two years old. Productive livestock is a broader term than breeding-cattle. Productive livestock includes not only breeding-cattle, but also beef cattle. For example, for grazing. In spring a farmer will buy cows that are not yet too fattened. The animals graze in the meadow throughout the entire summer so becoming heavier and fleshing out. Then in autumn, when they are heavy enough or there is no more grass, they go to the abattoir.

In addition to the purchase and sale of individual animals, the VION beef cattle organisation also provides support in valuation or in the supply or acceptance of entire herds.


Export cattle
In collaboration with VION Livestock, VION Cattle is responsible for the selection and export of breeding cattle. We sell Dutch cattle to clients worldwide, including to some Middle East countries.
VION employees are very experienced in the selection of breeding-cattle. They make a selection based on the specific requirements of customers.
The VION employees also provide for the housing and transportation of the livestock and ensure that the necessary veterinary activities take place. The transportation of animals is done with the greatest care, so that the optimum quality of the cattle is retained.


Milk quota
Since 1984 each individual dairy farmer has had a milk quota. This gives him the right to produce a certain quantity of milk. Milk quotas were introduced because more milk was being produced in the European Union than was consumed.
VION Cattle mediates for beef farmers in purchased and lease milk.