Over the past 15 years, Iraq has shifted towards importing live livestock due to production deficiencies in its agriculture and livestock sectors. The country relies heavily on imports to meet its needs due to limited agricultural and industrial production. The revenue from oil exports has allowed for an increase in import capacity, making live animal imports feasible. In this context, Dutch cattle, known for their high quality and productivity, have become a key alternative for Iraqi traders.
The Netherlands is a global leader in the breeding and export of Holstein-Friesian cattle. This breed is highly preferred worldwide due to its high milk yield and adaptability. In addition to Holstein-Friesians, other cattle breeds such as Jersey, Brown Swiss, Fleckvieh, and Meuse-Rhine-IJssel are also bred in the Netherlands. However, Holstein-Friesian remains one of the most productive dairy breeds in the world.
Dutch modern farms utilize automatic milking systems, feed optimization, and genetic tracking technologies to efficiently breed Holstein-Friesian cattle. Through selective breeding practices carried out over generations, milk production and health outcomes for these cattle have consistently improved. Moreover, Dutch companies offer healthy, genetically superior, and certified animals, exporting them to many countries around the world.
At CuB Consultants, we successfully connected our Iraqi client with leading Holstein-Friesian cattle breeders and exporters in the Netherlands. Firms like CRV, Klinger Export, European Gulf Company, Vaex, Van Drie Group, Lely, and VanderWiel play a significant role in Holstein-Friesian cattle production and export. These companies significantly contribute to Dutch livestock exports by offering products such as genetic improvement, breeding heifer exports, bull semen, and embryos.
The Netherlands’ export strength, supported by its robust logistics infrastructure, healthy, high-quality animals, and genetic diversity, provides Iraqi traders with significant advantages in securing quality livestock.
Our approach: Tailored livestock sourcing process for Iraqi traders
As CuB Consultants, we meticulously planned and coordinated every step of the project for our Iraqi client seeking cattle procurement in the Netherlands. Initially, our local consultants reached out to leading cattle producers in the Netherlands. They introduced our client, outlined their expectations, and highlighted the available business opportunities. During these communications, we established connections with companies that best met our client’s needs, arranged appointments, and prepared detailed reports on each company’s capacity and commercial activities. These reports enabled our client to make informed decisions and choose the best potential business partners.
An essential part of the process was helping our client overcome cultural and language barriers. We ensured that effective communication was established with the Dutch firms and provided the necessary support to facilitate smooth interactions. By addressing the cultural and language differences, we ensured that all parties worked in an environment of mutual understanding and trust, fostering a productive and sustainable business relationship.
Farm visits and cattle selection
In the second phase, we conducted on-site visits to the farms to help our client find the most suitable Holstein-Friesian cattle. We introduced our client to the companies, organized the meetings, and personally attended these discussions. During the visits, we guided our client in evaluating the quality of the cattle and inspecting the farm conditions. We also discussed the characteristics, health status, and potential benefits of the animals offered by each company, assisting our client in making the best selection.
Ensuring successful long-term partnerships
At the end of this process, we successfully facilitated the procurement of high-quality, healthy cattle from the Netherlands, simplifying the entire transaction for our Iraqi client. Moreover, our team organized the client’s travel plans to ensure a smooth and efficient process, following the pre-established timeline. This organization allowed our client to complete the business meetings in the most efficient way possible and laid the foundation for a successful long-term partnership.
If you’re interested in learning more about livestock procurement, the agricultural and livestock market in the Netherlands, or would like assistance finding business partners in the sector, please reach out to us. We are happy to assist you in arranging a consultation with one of our experts who can help guide your livestock sourcing efforts or partner search projects.