Veal production driven by social concerns

Henny Swinkels at World Meat Congress in Australia

Mijdrecht, 28 April 2006.

In the wake of developments in society, European veal production has adopted a groundbreaking new approach. The sector has responded to public opinion and worked hard during recent decades to improve its image. It has focussed increasingly on animal welfare, animal health, the environment and food safety and adopted sustainable production methods aimed at offering the consumer a fair and honest cut of veal.

This was the message revealed today by Henny Swinkels, Director Corporate Affairs of the Dutch VanDrie Group to an audience of 700 delegates at the World Meat Congress in Brisbane, Australia.

As representative of the world market leader in veal, Swinkels was invited to present his vision on developments in society relating to veal production and processing. The sheer size of the VanDrie Group allows the company to play a leading role in socially responsible business. The Safety Guard quality assurance system and the web enable any consumer armed with the ear tag number from the label to pay a virtual visit to the veal farmer where the animal was stabled. Every year the VanDrie Group processes in the region of 1.3 million veal calves.

Swinkels offered meat producers from around the world a picture of the many changes introduced in the sector in recent years, prompted in part by the new way people nowadays have of regarding animals.

Animal welfare is now paramount and the livestock industry is conscious of the fact that society takes a critical stance towards the way animals are reared. The result of this change includes the move to group housing in spacious, well-lit and well-ventilated stables.

In order to counteract anaemia, veal calves are now fed a significant amount of roughage to supplement their calf milk powder. This has a positive impact on the animals' health and welfare, but enables the sector to continue to supply the characteristic white veal people know and love.

The transport of newborn calves is also an area that has been given additional attention. Because milk yields per cow in the Netherlands have continued to rise and the related reduction in the dairy herd, fewer calves are being born. This means that the Dutch veal sector must look beyond its borders to find suitable newborn calves. Together with transporters, the VanDrie Group has developed a 'comfort class' cattle truck which allows the temperature and air humidity to be adjusted to suit the situation. A camera in the truck enables the driver to keep a close eye on the calves while driving. During transport from the farm to the slaughterhouse the welfare of the animals is also a key concern and the journey time never exceeds 2.5 hours.

The veal sector in the Netherlands helps solve the problem of excessive manure by investing in the processing of liquid manure into high-quality fertilisers. Five processing plants have already been built. Much of the veal farming in the Netherlands that takes place in a conservation area the centre of the country (Veluwe) is connected to pressurised pipe system. At the other farms the manure is collected with tanker trucks and then delivered to the processing plants.

The VanDrie Group plays an active role in dealing with the issue of waste. In order to reduce packaging, calf's milk powder is increasingly transported to the farms in bulk trucks and then stored in silos. Other transport methods include the use of big bags and recyclable sacks.

On balance, it turns out that taking account of the environment, animal welfare and food safety need not end up costing more money. Responsible production has been part of the VanDrie Group's business process for many years. Some areas have been improved and enhanced, but it has always been an integral part of the way the company works.

Socially responsible production forms the basis for the licence to produce. Not only so that we are accepted by the people in whose areas we work, but also because of the economic benefits it offers. You learn new ways to ensure sustainable production, you reach out to new target groups and you create goodwill. And above all, it delivers honest straightforward veal!

For more information: Mr H.W.A. Swinkels, Director Corporate Affairs VanDrie Group, telephone number +31 55 549 21 52 or +31 6 53 38 77 56.