Port looks east with dairy cow shipments

The new frontier is looking east, as the successful loading at the Port of Eastport of 475 dairy cows bound for Turkey makes future shipments of over 8,000 more cows through the port to that Middle Eastern country very likely. The shipment had been in limbo at the last minute because of bureaucratic challenges related to port and livestock inspections. Through the help of members of the state's congressional delegation and local state elected officials, the port received an initial approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the one shipment, with long-term certification as a port of embarkation for livestock pending.
Port Director Chris Gardner reports that the USDA inspectors, who oversaw the operation at the port, were pleased with the operation and told him they would give the port "an A+ report." He believes that obtaining long-term certification for the port will not be a problem now. Gardner adds that the longshoremen, who worked throughout the night, are to be commended for their work loading the cows.
Skip Rogers, general manager of Federal Marine Terminals, also says he was really pleased with how the operation went. "The guys did great. Everything went smoothly."
"It's a great opportunity for us," says Gardner, referring to the diversification of cargo as "another arrow in our quiver." He adds, "There's a need to expand the viable ports to do these shipments."
The Holstein dairy cows were loaded on July 17 on the Dutch-flagged ship Artisgracht, which had already taken on wood pulp at the port. The Netherlands-based shipping line Spliethoff "brought the opportunity to us," says Gardner. The company that shipped the cows, Sexing Technologies, based in Texas, had been looking for shipping lines that could carry the containers carrying the cows on the deck, and such lines come to both Eastport and Portland to load bulk cargo, according to Juan Moreno, co-CEO of the company. Other goods, such as grains or feeds for the cows, could also be loaded on the ships, he says.
"We're trying to make Eastport a permanent point of embarkation" for shipping the cows, says Moreno. The closest port that is certified for cattle exports in the U.S. is Wilmington, Del. Eastport is closer to Europe than other U.S. ports, and Gardner notes, "Being the last stop in the U.S. helps us. It's best for the customers and for the cattle. You're getting a direct shot across."
Moreno also points out, "It's cool up here, so there's no stress on the animals. Animal welfare for us is fundamental." The containers holding the cows, which Moreno calls animal comfort units, have fans and a supply of feed and water. Two attendants will be on the ship, and Moreno says, "It's like a five-star hotel." He adds, "We want the animals to arrive in the best shape. Happy customers are repeat customers." Gardner agrees, "It's a very humane way they're doing this."
The cows are from over 30 small dairies in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin. They then had a 60-day quarantine period and were health tested by USDA inspectors at a farm in Turner, Maine.
All of the cows being shipped are pregnant by being artificially inseminated. Sexing Technologies provides sex-sorted sperm for the livestock industry, so that there can be a 90% chance of having a female calf born. About three-quarters of the cows shipped from Eastport had sexed semen, as the buyer had requested female calves.
Moreno says Turkey has a severe shortage of milk cows. Also a high percentage of the population of nearly 80 million is under the age of 40, and milk is an important part of the diet. A U.S. supplier of cows was sought because U.S. programs to improve the breeds and milk production are high quality, he says.
Sexing Technologies will be shipping over 8,000 more cows to Turkey this year. "We'd like to ship them every 30 to 45 days, depending on ship availability," Moreno says. If Eastport is successful in continuing to land the business, another 16 or 17 vessels would be needed to ship them. Most of the ships likely would be ones that already were calling at the port, but some new calls also might be needed, says Gardner.
Moreno says the shipments could continue over the long term, since Turkey needs a great many cattle. Sheep also could be a possibility, with perhaps 10,000 needing to be shipped.
"The plan is to source the animals out of New England," Moreno says. "The process benefits everybody C the truckers, breeders, ones who make the feed and bedding." He adds that the carrying units could be built in this area.
The shipment, though, almost didn't happen, as USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) approved the shipment only two days before the cows were scheduled to be loaded. Turkey's regulations require that animals be exported only from "bluetongue disease free" states like Maine. At this time, however, the only approved port meeting these requirements is Wilmington, Del. According to APHIS, arranging the logistics for inspecting a new port usually takes several weeks. However, given the exporter's need to ship the cattle by July 18, the state's congressional delegation C U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Congressman Mike Michaud C worked closely with USDA to send additional APHIS staff to Maine to ensure the port, inspection facility, containers and vessel were inspected appropriately. In addition to helping with this initial shipment, the congressional delegation has successfully urged APHIS to initiate the process for long-term certification of the Port of Eastport as a livestock exportation facility.
Over the last 18 months, dairy farmers across the country have operated at a loss, and many have lost their farms and animals because of current economic conditions. "At a time when the dairy industry has been in crisis, the exportation of dairy heifers provides them with important economic support," the delegation stated, in a release. "Maine and other states can take advantage of a tremendous export opportunity to Turkey, but this market is limited because of the very specific export regulations to Turkey."
Gardner is grateful to the delegation and State Senator Kevin Raye for all of their assistance. "Within 36 hours of reaching out to them we had resolution, and it is without a doubt that without their help these permitting issues would not have been able to be overcome," he says. He adds that the shipment "has the potential to be a new industry here in Maine that centers on some of our oldest industries like farming and shipping."
Moreno also is grateful for the support from people at the port, the congressional delegation and Senator Raye. He says USDA was very supportive, moving crews from Florida for the inspections. He also notes that the farmer in Turner worked day and night to disinfect his facility so USDA could approve his facilities for inspection and deportation.
"I've never had this kind of support," Moreno says. "It makes you want to come back." If USDA gives the green light to certifying Eastport for livestock exports, Moreno says he will be back within two months.