Cow export potential to break record

Hundreds of euros in fines 
Van Dam gave the green light through the stables on Friday outside the scheme to set. 'Very good news', says Bleker. 'Our exporters were waiting for that.' The exemption came just in time to allow an order of 3.000 cows to go through to Russia. 'Without the exemption, the costs of fines could have run into the hundreds of euros.'  

Now that exports can resume, Bleker sees good opportunities. 'It carries on well. A few years ago we managed to export 40.000 animals. That number is now back in sight. Something that is possible due to a lot of demand, especially from outside the European Union, a lot of supply and attractive prices.' By attractive prices Bleker means prices that can compete with prices in other countries. 'Despite the fact that costs are higher in the Netherlands.'

Gap in the stopper arrangement
Meanwhile, there is still a gap in the stopper regulation for which Bleker would like to see a solution. For example, probably to safeguard animal welfare, the regulation includes that cows are no longer allowed to be exported from 5,5 months. Only after calving. 'Now the advice is to exchange the animals with cows that other dairy farmers already wanted to take to slaughter.'

The disadvantage for export is that only pregnant animals are requested. 'Waiting until after calving means that the animals have become much less common. Capital destruction.' Bleker indicates that animals are only allowed to be exported up to a maximum of 8 months of gestation, so that the regulation was not necessary. "Towing and bartering with livestock is much more undesirable." For now there is no solution in sight and that is the only way to keep a good pregnant cow out of the slaughterhouse.