Magazine nr. 5 (ENG)

03-2022 - GB PAUL GOVERS (DIRK’S GREAT-GRANDFATHER) AT THE PIGLET MARKET IN OSS.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS

TIMELINE – VAEX P4 INTERVIEW MARIO RAVLIć P7 INTERVIEW CALIN BOGDAN MUSCA P10 INTERVIEW MIKE CORNELISSEN P12 2021 IN NUMBERS P14 INTERVIEW MELLE VAN DE LAGEMAAT P18 INTERVIEW GERD LIEBING P20 COOKING WITH LEO P24

05

IN THIS EDITION 4 Timeline – VAEX

7 10

6 A new route for Ruud Vosters Interview with Mario Ravlić

Interview with Calin Bogdan Musca Investing in local production – Romania

12

Interview with Mike Cornelissen Surrounded by piglets since he was born

14 2021 in numbers 16 Market developments 2021

18 20

Interview with Melle van de Lagemaat Going for a ride in a truck as a small boy

Interview with Gerd Liebing Anything other than livestock? No!

22 Short articles

24

Cooking with Leo

26 Let us introduce

This is a publication of: VAEX THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS Heijtmorgen 19, 5375 AL Reek, The Netherlands, T: 0031-486472250 E: info@vaex.nl, www.vaex.nl ©2022 VAEX The Livestock Traders 2 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

Achieving growth together thanks to a personal touch Where it all began. With my great-grandfather at the piglet market in Oss. It was there that our family started out in the pig trade. And now, 4 generations and a great many experiences later, we find ourselves in 2022.

In 2021, the market for pigs was a turbulent one. As in the previous year, the market lacked balance and remained unsettled. African swine fever was increasingly gaining ground in Europe. Rising feed prices and falls in the price of pigs also caused the year to be a very challenging one.

VAEX set in motion a number of positive developments.

We were able to send the majority of our piglets for slaughter to the slaughterhouse in the Netherlands. VAEX also exceeded its targets in Romania.The trade in heifers underwent a recovery in 2021. The company also began trading in cuts of meat. Considerable numbers of slaughter pigs were also exported across our country’s borders.

And finally, we successfully traded a very good number of piglets. In order to achieve that, we have forged trading

relationships that extend to the furthermost corners of Europe.

In this edition, we will focus on our activities in 2021. On the events that occurred within the market and how VAEX responded to them. We will present our figures for 2021 and will once again include interviews with a variety of people from within our sector. We will also speak to a number of people to look back on how things were in the past.

For us, personal contact is extremely important. Our aim is to be a presence on the ground in all parts of Europe.

That is why we are almost always on the road, on the way to visit our contacts. In the past couple of years, COVID-19 unfortunately prevented us from doing that, so we hope that in 2022, we will be able to get back out there again as much as we did before! Always further, always ahead.

Dirk Govers, CEO THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 3

1900/1920 The pig trader Paul Govers (Dirk’s great-grandfather).

2005 Pim and Dirk take over the reins and officially join the Board. The company makes its first forays into the selling of heifers and trucks.

2006 The company exports heifers to Russia for the first time.

2008

2009

VAEX moves into new office premises in Reek.

The company sets up the Anhoka resting stable. which is an EU-authorized resting stable for livestock located in Kiskorpád, a small village in Hungary.

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2O14

2O15

The company sells carcasses for the first time. VAEX The Meat Traders takes its first steps as a business.

Our truck selling activities undergo an expansion. Pim fully shifts his focus to VAEX The Truck Traders.

Dirk continues to focus on VAEX The Livestock Traders.

1940

1971

The pig trader, Piet Govers (Dirk’s grandfather). He died young. His daughter Annie took charge of the business.

As soon as Toon and Leo were old enough, they took over the reins.

Leo and Toon Govers set up the pig trading company Gebroeders Govers (Govers Brothers) (photo: Toon and Leo). At the kitchen table in Reek. With one telephone and just a single truck.

2007

2012

2013

Cattle are exported for the first time by air. From Canada to Russia.

Cattle are exported for the first time by ship. From America to Russia.

Axis Eurolink is set up.

VAEX’s transportation department becomes a limited company in its own right.

1974

Gebroeders Govers becomes VAEX Varkens- en Vleeshandel.

The company’s first export to Germany. This was soon followed by exports to other European countries.

2022

VAEX makes its first forays into Romania, laying the basis for its premises in that country.

Carmen (the director of VAEX Trading Co SRL) starts working for VAEX.

2O19

1991

ALWAYS FURTHER, ALWAYS AHEAD After all, our company never stands still. VAEX looks ahead to see what the future has in store.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 5

RUUD VOSTERS PURSUES A NEW PATH WITHIN VAEX. Ruud Vosters began his career eighteen years ago as a buyer and as a member of the sales team at The Livestock Traders.

For many, he soon became a familiar face within the VAEX family and since then, he has built up a valuable network both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Due to changes within the sector and to the number of years that have passed, the time has come for Ruud to take the next step in his career. In the light of his own personal development, he has decided to take up a new challenge within the VAEX Group.

With effect from April 1, Ruud will transfer to The Truck Traders in Ravenstein. Once there, he will apply his purchasing skills to the Scandinavian truck market, while utilizing his knowledge of livestock transportation in the sale of livestock trucks. His new position will be an excellent way to gain new experiences while staying in contact with his current network.

We are pleased and proud that Ruud and VAEX have always remained on the same page during his search for a new position. So let’s raise a glass in the confident knowledge that a great future lies ahead for Ruud within the VAEX Group!

ON THE ROAD WITH RUUD & MIKE! In each edition of VAEX Magazine, we give some of our business connections an opportunity to introduce themselves.

This time, it is the turn of our highly valued customer, Ravlić. With this in mind, our marketing team, consisting of Nicolle and Rachelle, accompanied Ruud and Mike on their trip to Cro tia. You can read the interview with Mario Ravlić on pages 7, 8 and 9.

6 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

The 3rd generation at the helm MARIO RAVLIĆ Together with his sister, Mario is in charge of the family company RAVLIĆ in Croatia.

He became involved in the family business while still in high school. In 1999, he visited the Netherlands for the first time with his father to buy machines for the company. Mario came along with him as an interpreter, as his father didn’t speak English well. He was 13 years old at the time.

Over the years, he gradually got to know the industry better. He grew up with it. In the past 10 years, Mario has held various positions within the company.

Today, he is 35 years old and is running this family-owned company together with Ivana.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 7

Then and now The market is constantly changing. Faster and faster. Now that my sister Ivana and I are the 3rd generation at the helm, we want to do things differently.

We intend to make use of our fresh perspective to future-proof the company. In order to achieve that, one of the things we have done is invest heavily in our staff. We believe in the capabilities of our staff and are offering them more responsibilities and greater scope to make their own choices. The company has now become less hierarchical.

change. Despite the emotional value attached to the brand, it felt like the right time.

See opportunities, seize opportunities Meat consumption is high in Croatia. It is even increasing. Not as rapidly as before, but nevertheless it is increasing. Fish consumption is down. People prefer consuming large portions of pork, but less so in the south of Croatia, however, where people mainly eat beef.

Expansion is on the agenda A number of projects are under way to increase our production capacity. One of those involves the construction of our own cattle farm with a capacity of 1,000 animals. It will be one of the most up-to-date farms in Croatia and will combine the very latest technology with traditional husbandry.

As well as supplying around 50 butchers, we also supply our meat products to wholesalers, catering establishments and supermarkets such as Spar and Kaufland. Increasing opportunities are also available to us in the hospitality sector, however, though in recent years, we haven’t taken full advantage of them. Those opportunities can mainly be found in the south of Croatia, as the tourism and hospitality sectors have a massive presence on the coast. That is our current focus.

The largest project currently under way is the construction of a brand-new meat processing plant occupying a surface area of 3,000 m². This will enable us to increase our production capacity fourfold.

Our aim is to achieve a daily production figure of about 20 tons. The launch of this meat processing plant will give a significant boost to our market position. Increasing our production capacity in this way will also allow us to expand our product range.

The meat-processing plant is expected to open in spring 2023. Not only will this increase our capacity, but it will also create 50 new jobs.

Major plans Ravlić is a well-known meat brand in Croatia and that is something we have consistently worked hard to achieve in the 60 years of our company's existence. Nevertheless, the time has come for

8 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

A rebranding is therefore on the agenda. Not only will this include a new logo, but also a new design and new packaging. In short, a completely new look for our company and our products alike. The timing felt right. The brand has not changed at all in the past 15 years. So it’s now time for a fresh new brand – one that is better suited to our times and our ambitions.

Who knows, perhaps this will make it possible for us to begin exporting in the future? Maybe even to China. But we’ll wait until the right opportunity comes along.

Expanding trade connections with VAEX We have been collaborating with VAEX for almost 10 years now. The first time I came across VAEX was at the Eurotier trade-fair in Hannover. Some time later, when searching for piglets for slaughter, I was advised to contact Ruud from VAEX. VAEX is a well-known name here in Croatia. I wanted to find a good partner. Quality is of great importance to us, and VAEX has the ability to provide that.

We use VAEX's services, but VAEX uses ours as well. We sometimes slaughter piglets for VAEX The

Meat Traders, so that the meat can be transported to Serbia in as fresh a condition as possible. We have developed a great and mutually beneficial relationship, which has led to some excellent trade connections. Nowadays, VAEX is also helping us to establish contacts within Europe. For example, we are now doing business with contacts from Serbia. That way, we hope to expand our trade connections even further.

We are proud of this pleasant and well-established cooperation.

ABOUT RAVLIĆ 1960 was the year in which the Ravlić family's entrepreneurial story began. Ivana and Mario's grandparents moved to Petrijevci, where they bought a large piece of land and started the business. They manufactured barrels, sold wine and started a restaurant.

In the 1980s, the company's growth came to a standstill. At that time, businesses had a maximum of 5 employees. Nevertheless, it achieved a great deal of success. When Mario and Ivana's parents took over the business, they had the opportunity to grow and branch out into the meat industry. Little by little, they invested more and more. Their father in meat and their mother in the restaurant.

A new era then began with the opening of the first butcher's shop. This was a milestone for the company. From then on, they were able to develop their activities within the meat industry.

Today, Ravlić is one of the market leaders in Croatia’s meat industry. The company operates a network of 50 butcher’s shops, their own meat processing plant and a sister company in the agricultural sector.

Its slaughterhouse is one of the most modern slaughtering facilities in Croatia, with a slaughtering capacity of 180 pigs and 35 cattle per hour and the potential to expand.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 9

INVESTING LOCAL

The market in Romania is a dynamic one and is anything but predictable or stable. VAEX has been working for fifteen years in Arad to ‘pave the way for pigs’ in Romania. For this edition, VAEX interviewed Calin Bogdan Musca, the owner of PORKPROD SRL, a company that operates its own pig-breeding facility, cattle rearing facility and a slaughterhouse. Just like our office in Romania, PORKPROD SRL is also located in Arad.

PORKPROD SRL commenced its activities around fifteen years ago, after acquiring a pig-breeding facility in Iratoșu. The aim was to expand its production capacity and set up new branches of activity.

Today, the company not only has its own pig-breeding facility, but also its own cattle rearing facility that is home to 1,100 Charolais cattle. They also have their own slaughterhouse that opened in December 2020, with a slaughtering capacity of 120 animals per hour.

10 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

IN PRODUCTION Challenges on the Romanian market The market has changed, said Calin. The decrease in the number of pigs in Romania has led to animals being imported. Those imports currently account for Romania’s domestic production. This situation is an unwelcome one for our country, but I reckon that the same thing would also apply in any other country.

The large quantity of imports is causing a situation of unfair competition within the market. Prices are under pressure.

Large chains are buying imported meat products at a low price that is not feasible for local producers. This in itself is a challenge we are facing every day.

When I first started fifteen years ago, I knew that there was a market need for high-quality products. Now, I realize that it’s a case of ‘educating’ the market so that people are able to appreciate the quality of the products. So that they not only know that the product they are buying is a good-quality product, but that they are getting at the right price as well.

Working together and moving forward We have been collaborating with VAEX for two to three years now and 2021 was the year when we achieved our highest figures so far. VAEX was the first serious partner we started working with for the sale of piglets and, occasionally, carcasses. At the moment, VAEX is our only partner from abroad and we certainly enjoy working with them.

Photo: Calin & Carmen

We have managed to attract a funding package from the EU, which will enable us to improve our competitive position. Putting the EU money to use in a suitable way was a challenge, as the regulations are not always consistent with each other.

However, by making sure we stayed in regular touch with the Romanian authorities and with a great deal of effort, we managed to fulfil the conditions that applied to the funding.

Another challenge we had to face was to continue producing good quality meat, or in some cases even to improve the quality we supply. Without making any concessions. By continuing the initiative we have already begun and by increasing awareness among our customers, we can make sure that in the future, they will always choose to buy a quality product at the right price.

‘We must look to the future’ Major investment was needed to arrive at the level we have reached today. At this point in time, however, we need to move ahead and maintain our speed of growth. We cannot simply stand still. At the moment, the market is unpredictable for producers and slaughterhouses alike, but hopefully, we will soon be able to leave this situation behind and will be able to focus on increasing our production and slaughtering capacity so that we can bring down our costs.

About Calin Bogdan Musca • Previously, he wanted to become a fireman. Until he discovered his passion for animal rearing, that is.

• His favorite cut of meat is a T-bone steak from a Charolais. That is certainly something you can wake him up for at night!

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 11

SURROUNDED BY PIGLETS SINCE HE WAS BORN 12 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

Trained in business and the agri-food business and from a farming family as well. Yet he still chose to take up a different challenge within the agri-business and is now pursuing his ambition to perform a commercial role in the sector.

Mike Cornelissen has been part of the VAEX team as a buyer and seller of meat and carcasses now since May 2021.

At 25 years old, Mike is the youngest addition to our sales team. The fact that he has chosen to work in this sector is no surprise. The family farm, Varkenshouderij Cornelissen B.V., which operates nine sites in the Dutch provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg, belongs to his parents.

So you could say that he has been surrounded by piglets since he was born.

But why not work for the family business?

My ambitions lie in areas other than production or managing a pig-rearing facility. VAEX was one of the first companies I contacted. I was already familiar with them, as they have already been doing business with my parents for many years now.

VAEX also offers a great deal of opportunities in the area of meat and carcasses, so that is what I intend to focus on. It’s also interesting to find out what the sector is like when you

ABOUT MIKE ● Previously, he wanted to become a chef.

He enjoys eating. ● Do you enjoy a nice piece of meat? Of course!

His favorite cut of meat is a slice of bacon. ● Mike will leap at the chance of going on a skiing holiday. ● Mike still enjoys lending a hand loading pigs or piglets. It’s the variety that he likes.

get to see the end product, not only the livestock. So I have taken up the challenge and am now building my career as an international buyer and seller of meat and carcasses.

Seeking out and exploring unknown frontiers Locations that are familiar to VAEX are still unknown to others. VAEX has connections in all parts of Europe. For some slaughterhouses, South-East Europe is unknown territory.

But not for VAEX. In my view, that region offers scope to create some attractive trade connections.

My aim is not only to create a firm foundation for the weekly trade in meat and carcasses, but also to build up greater brand familiarity under the name VAEX The Meat Traders within the EU. From local to international Whereas previously, the only way of getting in touch with people was via a landline telephone, the advent of mobile phones and online communications has brought about considerable changes. In the past, products were traded on local markets, but today, they are traded internationally. Doing business with a single trading partner offers added value.

A partner who has international contacts and knows both the market and the culture.

Due to the decrease of exports into Asia and the measures to combat COVID-19, the supply currently outstrips the demand. Slaughterhouses are looking for new sales markets in Europe and VAEX is able to provide them. We have been active in Europe for years. We know the people, the market and the culture and we have the connections.

Mike has been getting involved since he was very young.

Here, you can see him with his brother on a tractor, at home on the farm.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 13

2021 IN NUM 37

7

employees

commission agents

100

million turnover

6,264

tons

traded carcasses & meat

TOTAL ANIMALS TRADED: 1,385,000

Breeding cattle 5,200

Slaughter pigs 128,000

Sows 2,900

KZ 5%

RO

Fattening and slaughter cattle 900

1% %

IQ 2

1%

14 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

Slaughtered piglets 93,000

LB

Piglets 1,155,000

BERS

NL 42%

DK 28% OTHER

DE 11%

3%

HU

8%

RO

8%

PIGLETS Purchased per country

DE 3%

RO 26%

ES 31% IT 15%

BE 3%

%

RS

4%

2%

HR 3

OTHER 6%

3%

SI

NL

PL

PIGLETS Sales per country

4%

BREEDING CATTLE Purchased per country

NL 40%

DE 60%

RU 91% BREEDING CATTLE Sales per country

BE - Belgium, DE - Germany, DK - Denmark, ES - Spain, HR - Croatia, HU - Hungary, IQ - Iraq, IT - Italy, KZ - Kazakhstan, LB - Lebanon, NL - Netherlands, OTHER - Other, PL - Poland, RO - Romania, RS - Serbia, RU - Russia, SI - Slovenia

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 15

FLEXIBLY RESPONDING TO SHIFTING TRADE FLOWS In 2021, the markets were anything but stable, but things were in fact less hectic than in 2020 – the year of the coronavirus. Striking features of the past year have been the extremely low price levels in the pig farming sector and the ongoing advance of African swine fever.

We spoke with Dirk Govers and looked back at the market developments in 2021 and how VAEX responded to them.

Looking back at 2021, it’s clear that it was actually a lousy year for pig farmers. The prices they achieved for their piglets and fattening pigs were too low. Pig breeders in particular suffered significant losses due to the extremely low prices for piglets. The price of feed also increased sharply during the course of the year, by more than 20 percent. In short: the cost price kept on rising, while the returns came under severe pressure.

What is striking is the fact that the pig farming sector in the Netherlands and Germany is actually shrinking. In the Netherlands, the effect of the Rationalization Scheme for the Pig Farming Sector is becoming more clearly visible. In Germany, pig breeders are leaving the sector as a result of African swine fever, the low prices for pigs and the stricter welfare requirements. It is also true to say that social and political pressure on the pig farming sector have increased in both countries and this will lead to a further contraction in the size of the markets.

Nevertheless, VAEX was still able to

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trade in the same number of animals as before. It was able to do so thanks to the opportunities that existed in South East Europe. In fact, VAEX was able to do more business there than before.

Shifting trade flows Trade flows are shifting as a result of market developments. Germany’s leading role within Europe’s pig farming sector seems to be decreasing significantly, while Spain appears to be taking over that position. This is also reflected in the international trade in Dutch piglets. Exports of piglets shrank in 2021. Exports of piglets to Spain, on the other hand, increased by 250,000 animals. VAEX contributed to this by exporting 7,000 to 8,000 piglets to Spain a week.

Normally speaking, Denmark always manages to find willing buyers for its piglets. In 2021, however, that turned out to be less easy. Denmark largely depends on exports to Germany and Poland. The shrinking market in Germany, however, meant that there was less interest from that country.

The price for Danish piglets therefore fell even further than the price for Dutch or German piglets. Nevertheless, VAEX was still able to find customers for a large number of Danish piglets. Thanks to the company’s connections in South East Europe, those piglets mainly ended up in Italy and Serbia. In the second half of 2021, Serbia became an important sales channel. The piglets were transported to Serbia via our own resting stable in Hungary. This meant that we were able to guarantee the health and quality of the piglets more effectively.

A decrease in self-sufficiency Romania’s pig farming sector is also having a hard time. African swine fever has taken hold and has affected some of the country’s large pig farms, causing those businesses to be out of production for as much as a year. As a result, the country’s self-sufficiency as a supplier of pork fell by 15 to 20 percent in the course of just one year. This caused a stir within the market. Fixed trade connections broke down and some businesses were forced to leave the sector. This meant that VAEX was able to fetch more piglets from Romania’s neighbors and find buyers for them in

Romania. VAEX was also able to do even more business inside Romania as a supplier of meat cuts and carcasses.

Ensuring that trade keeps moving 2021 was characterized by an imbalance in sales of fattening pigs. Issues affecting the processing of meat at slaughterhouses created a situation in which pig farmers had to keep their pigs on the farm for excessively long periods. VAEX successfully arranged for the sale of fattening pigs that had become overweight via its network in Italy. Whenever incidents occur such as the temporary closure of slaughterhouses, the company can quickly tap into new trading channels.

For example, pigs from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany were transported to slaughterhouses in Poland, Spain and Slovakia. Some were even sent to Romania. This is just one example of how VAEX went in search of solutions that enabled buyers for the pigs to be found.

The market for heifers is recovering In comparison to 2020, the year of the coronavirus, the trade in heifers underwent a recovery. Two major projects

in Russia formed the backbone of that revival. In total, around 5,000 heifers were exported during 2021. In order to be able to service attractive sales markets such as Russia and Kazakhstan, resting stables are needed that apply the European directives. Eighteen months ago, exporting from the Netherlands and Germany to countries outside the European Union was prohibited, as the quality of the resting stables could not be guaranteed.

Soon afterwards, in Germany, consultations with the sector, the veterinary services and the government soon led to a ruling that such exports were possible once again. The Dutch government resisted this, however, for as long as it could. Ultimately, in the second half of 2021, the representative body of livestock exporters and importers in the Netherlands, Vee&Logistiek (Livestock&Logistics), launched a pilot project in collaboration with the government. As a result, exports are now possible again, subject to certain conditions. VAEX was able to make its own contribution towards this process by assisting in the process of obtaining recognition for certain resting stables in Russia.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 17

GOING FOR TRUCK AS ABOUT MELLE Truck driver at VAEX Melle van de Lagemaat and his wife José have 3 children: Merel, Jurgen and Stijn.

Melle (49) has been a truck driver for over 25 years now and working with livestock is his passion. He’s never actually done anything else. Most of Melle’s runs involve transporting fattening pigs to other locations in the Netherlands.

Melle first joined VAEX in 2016. At the time, VAEX had entered into a joint venture with Melle’s employer, Jan de Koning, which meant that Melle and his Volvo came to be working for VAEX. And that in itself was a bit of an issue for a while... In VAEX’s eyes, there is only one brand of truck and that is Scania! Luckily, however, a new Scania is now on its way, so this summer, Melle will take to the roads in a brand-new Scania S530 V8!

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Melle notes down all of his runs in a paper diary? And that he has been doing that since his very first run? In fact, he has kept hold of all of the diaries he has used over the years. So we were able to look back and find out the details of his very first run. On March 25, 1997, he drove a consignment of calves from the market in the Dutch town of Doetinchem to De Rips.

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A RIDE IN A A SMALL BOY Melle’s love of his job began back at home in Lunteren. As Melle himself explained: “My parents ran a farm that specialized in dairy cows, but there were also a few pigs and chickens. The animal transporter from the village, Dick Spelt Transport, always came by to collect the cows. As a small boy, I was occasionally allowed to go with him in the truck. I loved it! As soon as I could, I got my license to drive trucks and started work at Spelt Transport as a driver.

of the livestock. But rules shouldn’t go too far. They need to be feasible and realistic. After all, they don’t make our work any easier. The need to comply with all of the rules creates a lot of time pressure. Tasks need to be performed within a specific time, otherwise they are no longer cost-effective. A small amount of pressure is no bad thing, but it does take a little bit of the pleasure away. Spontaneously stopping off for a cup of coffee isn’t possible anymore.

Back then, when we parked up at the market The good old days. Everything was more relaxed back then.

There was less time pressure. The market in Doetinchem, Utrecht or Zwolle would begin at 6 o’clock. Before the market got under way, I had already collected the cows from the farmer and offloaded them at the market. Ready to be sold.

From being hailed a hero to receiving the finger treatment Nowadays, people view truck drivers differently to how they did before. Back then, people were pleased to see you. After all, you were the one who made sure they had food on their plate. Some even saw you as a hero. That’s quite a difference compared to now. As a profession, being a truck driver has now become less attractive. The negativity towards the sector in the media has a lot to do with this. It also means that you run the risk of being given the finger treatment as you drive past. It isn’t right though that we as truck drivers are held responsible for the problems. I take the very best care possible of the pigs. Luckily, I haven’t seen anyone put their middle finger up at me all that often, so far. But it would never put me off doing my job. I like my job too much for that. I actually enjoy what I do. I enjoy the freedom I have in my truck and the responsibility I have for the livestock. I make sure they arrive safely at their destination. I wouldn’t want to do any other job. It’s my favorite hobby.

In the afternoon, I would make the return journey with a consignment of calves on board. The lines of communication were short. You sat around the table in a group of three.

The seller, the buyer and me. And that was it. The deal was struck, and I knew where I would need to transport the calves that afternoon. I would get the calves together and then take them away. As a driver, you got to know much more about the trade itself.

Rules create time pressure The fact there are rules is a good thing. After all, the main purpose of having rules is to ensure the health and safety

A NEW TRAILER! So here it is! The new type-2 trailer for Melle. With 3 levels and a box, it offers even more space for the pigs. This trailer is able to transport as many as 220 pigs! It also comes with a whole host of bells and whistles.

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 19

Would I transport anything else except livestock!? No!

GERD LIEBING Gerd’s career as a truck driver transporting livestock began back in 1979 at a company in the former East Germany. He was 18 years old at the time. Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, the divisions between the two Germanies became a thing of the past. Unfortunately, this was also true of the company Gerd was working for at that point.

So he wondered, ‘what should I do now?’ He knew that he didn’t want to do anything else but transport livestock. In 1991, Gerd and his father therefore got together and bought a livestock truck. And now, at the age of 61, Gerd Liebing is still transporting livestock, but he does so now on behalf of his own company, Gerd Liebing Viehtransporte.

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In the beginning, we mainly transported cattle for slaughter to destinations in Germany. But more orders started coming in. Business was good, so my father and I decided to purchase a few additional livestock trucks. To satisfy EU animal protection legislation for the transportation sector, we decided to modernize our livestock trucks time after time.

More runs, longer distances The challenges you are faced with when transporting cattle have increased. Not only has the number of runs increased, but the distances have also grown longer.

There are also significant differences in the checks carried out by the authorities or the veterinary services. For that reason, I started working together with various transport companies, as that would enable me to comply with the changes to the various laws and regulations. In the past, that was easier than it is today.

The difference between the role of a driver then and today lies in the vehicles. Down the years, the vehicles themselves have improved and the protection provided to the animals during transportation has increased as a result.

All of the paperwork was checked and nothing was out of the ordinary. Then the police officers said they would like to have a look at the livestock. There was so much straw in the trailer, it looked a complete mess. But suddenly, there was a problem with the water system. A water hose had ruptured and the animals on the lower deck of the trailer were standing up to their knees in water. I thought I should stop and that I couldn’t continue my journey. But one of the police officers said: ‘That’s fine. They’re water buffalo so they love water!’ I was pretty surprised, but luckily was able to continue my journey.

My connection with VAEX In 2014, I met Leo Govers in the Netherlands and it was then that my working relationship with VAEX first began. My first run was to Russia, together with three other trucks from VAEX. That’s something I still do to this day and really enjoy.

The runs that I do involve transporting heifers to countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. I make the arrangements for the resting stables and contract additional transport companies if necessary. In short, if I’m asked to do something, I’ll sort it!

Special runs Having reached the age of 61, I have had lots of experiences. Some of them were enjoyable, but some were less enjoyable. Something that always sticks in my mind was a consignment of 32 water buffalo I transported from Bulgaria to the Netherlands.

It was summer. During the night, I was stopped by the police for a check. I was driving in Germany, not far from the Dutch city of Venlo.

ABOUT GERD ● E ven from a young age, he wanted to become a livestock truck driver. There wasn’t anything he would rather have done! ● His most enjoyable run? He enjoys all of the runs that he does, in summer or in winter. But he is always very pleased whenever he is asked to do a run to Russia, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. ● When is Gerd at his happiest? Once all of his livestock have safely been unloaded at the end of the run and the customer is content! ● Did you know that Gerd’s vehicle tows a trailer belonging to VAEX? That means he’s easy to recognize!

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Naam v an de w oordzoek er Naam ______________________

Curious to see our company film?

Datum _____________________

CAN YOU FIND ALL OF THE HIDDEN WORDS

Kun IN jij alle verborgen woorden vinden in deze woordzoeker?

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VAEX’s piglets for slaughter are slaughtered in the Netherlands

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As a result of the latest regulations, second and third-choice piglets can no longer be exported, which is why VAEX is now sending its piglets for slaughter to slaughterhouses in the Netherlands. This marked the beginning of VAEX The Meat Traders. Later on, exports could be resumed once again, after the rules had been relaxed.

Despite this, VAEX continued having its piglets for slaughter processed in the Netherlands. By doing this, VAEX’s aim was to ensure that longdistance transportation still remains an option in the future and to avoid any discussions.

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 CARCASSES CARCASSES  CONNECTED EUROPE  COWS INTERNATIONAL  EUROPE  EXPORT MEAT  GOVERS SCANIA  INTERNATIONAL

CONNECTED LIVESTOCK  MAGAZINE EXPORT  MEAT LIVESTOCK PIGLETS PIGLETS REEK  SCANIA

SOWS

 SOWS COWS  TKOMTGOED GOVERS  TRADING MAGAZINE  TRANSPORT  TRUCK REEK  VAEX

TKOMTGOED

Did you know that... ● V AEX did business in over 28 different

countries in 2021? ● L eo Govers is now selling model trucks on line?

For details, see www.leosemodeltrucks.nl ● e ach week, a total of 3,400 people receive our

e-mail listing the prices of pigs? ● a ccording to the list published by the magazine,

Elsevier, the VAEX Group is one of the top 500 companies in the Netherlands, at number 453?

This is certainly something we can rightly be proud of, along with Buffl and The Truck Traders. ● o ur team of staff at VAEX is actually a young one? Our youngest employee is 18 years old and the average age of our employees at VAEX is 32!

22 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

The Anhoka resting stable in Hungary This resting stable is an EU-recognized stopping point for piglets, pigs, sows or calves.

A vehicle wash and a weighbridge are also available. All transport companies are welcome there!

Did you know that you can view our current demand and supply every day?

You didn’t? In that case, take a look here:

www.viavaex.com

Details of the latest demand and supply is listed here every working day!

Prefer to receive it by e-mail?

If so, please register by visiting:

www.vaex.nl/signup

THE LIVESTOCK TRADERS | 23

g n i k o o C with Leo Ingredients:

Pork belly • 1,500 grams of pork belly with the rind on • 2 cloves of garlic • 4 tsp of Indonesian soy sauce • A dash of white wine vinegar • 2 tsp of soy sauce • 3 sage leaves • 2 tsp of coarse mustard • 2 sprigs of thyme • 2 tsp of coarse sea salt Baked potatoes • 6 large potatoes • Olive oil • 1 sprig of thyme • 1 sprig of rosemary • 250 g of crème fraîche • 10 g of fresh chives Coleslaw • 400 g of sweetheart cabbage • 2 carrots • 1 red onion • 100 g of mayonnaise • 50 g of crème fraîche • 2 tsp of smooth mustard • A small dash of lemon juice

24 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

Pork belly with baked potato and homemade coleslaw Number of persons: 6 Preparation Pork belly The marinade: finely chop the cloves of garlic. Put the garlic in a bowl, add the Indonesian soy sauce, white wine vinegar, soy sauce and mustard. Mix together until smooth. Pluck the thyme leaves from the sprigs and chop them finely.

Finely chop the sage leaves. Mix the thyme and the sage with the other ingredients of the marinade.

Cut the rind of the pork belly crosswise, creating a diamond pattern. The rind is the hard outer layer.

Make a cut approximately every 2 cm. Cut only into the skin, not into the meat.

Spread the marinade over the meat and place the meat in a container. Pour the rest of the marinade over the meat. Cover the container with aluminum foil and allow the meat to marinate for 1 to 1.5 hours at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Remove the meat from the marinade. Fry the meat, rind-side down, at high heat until the rind is crisp. Then fry the other sides until crisp. Remove the pan from the heat.

Generously sprinkle the layer of cut fat with the coarse sea salt.

Put the meat in a roasting tin. Put the tin in the oven and cook the pork belly, covered with aluminum foil, for 40 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the baked potatoes. After 40 minutes, remove the foil and cook the pork belly for another 45 minutes in the oven at 200 degrees, at the same time as the potatoes.

Baked potatoes Wrap each potato in aluminum foil. Add salt, pepper and a splash of olive oil. Distribute the thyme and rosemary over the 6 potatoes. Bake the potatoes during the final 45 minutes while the pork belly is cooking.

Coleslaw Slice the sweetheart cabbage and the carrots into very thin strips. Finely chop the onion. Mix these ingredients together with the mayonnaise, crème fraîche and mustard in a bowl. Add a small dash of lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve Cut the pork belly into nice equal slices of approximately 1 to 2 cm thick. Finely chop the chives and mix with the crème fraîche. Cut the potatoes in half and fill them with the chive crème fraîche. Distribute the slices of pork belly over the 6 plates and put a baked potato on each plate. Add some coleslaw on the side and ‘bon appétit!’

! y o j En

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Let us introduce...

The talented members of our sales and admin department! The ones who make sure that everything keeps running behind the scenes, day in and day out.

Karin

Our happy manager. The face that first welcomes you when you arrive at VAEX’s head office. Works at Reception and in financial administration.

26 | VAEX MAGAZINE NO. 5 - 03/2022

Anita

Has now become ‘part of the furniture’ at VAEX, having worked for the company since 1998.

As a proud mother and grandmother, she likes nothing better than talking about her children and grandchildren. One of the things she does is make sure that all of our payments are made and processed on time.

Daphne

The ears of VAEX. Daphne hears everything. Whether she wants to, or not. She is used (or misused) as an expert on all things VAT. She also ensures that everything runs smoothly in the administration and sales support departments.

Mark

Healthy boy and an outstanding member of our sales support team. A genuine ‘one-stop shop’ for all his colleagues. Insurance policies, invoices, order confirmations, Tinder tips – you name it!

Percilla

There’s no-one more precise than our talented sales support representative, Percilla. Day and night, she’s on hand to make sure that the admin side of our business is covered.

Willem

Football, football and yet more football.

Oh yes, and he’s a controller. He knows exactly what’s happening on the admin side.

He can explain every euro. And he enjoys brewing and drinking beer.

Kevin

Our chief controller. Kevin can help you with anything to do with figures. He’s also responsible for all of our reports and analyses. A city boy who’s always up for a drinks reception.

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ALWAYS FURTHER, ALWAYS AHEAD