Port of Olympia Marine Terminal adds dairy cattle cargo

Vessel scheduled to transport dairy heifers to Vietnam

Port of Olympia announces the anticipated movement of 1400 head of dairy cattle to Vietnam in late November on the M/V Falconia, a specialized humane animal-carrier. The country of Vietnam has launched a campaign geared toward minimizing childhood malnourishment through a strategy of providing “one glass of milk per child per day”. In doing so, they have followed the example of other countries who have been importing dairy cattle from the United States’ east coast. The dairy heifers will come from California farms and will first stop for a 28-day quarantine at a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved farm facility. There, veterinarians will observe the condition of the animals prior to transporting them overseas.

Following the USDA-regulated holding period, the dairy heifers will be moved to the Port and directly loaded to the ship. The cattle will board on a specialized platform and gangway that keep any hoof from touching the dock. The loading process is expected to take two days. The loaded vessel will make way for Vietnam on about a three-week voyage due to the ship heading south for calmer seas and a better voyage for the heifers. with a veterinarian on board to ensure the cattle receive the best treatment. The USDA has vetted all parts of this supply chain to ensure the most humane handling of the animals, and the Port has taken the appropriate measures to alleviate environmental concerns. The Marine Terminal’s efforts to attract new and diverse cargoes caught the attention of an agricultural customer working with local support. The Port hopes that this loading operation will encourage other companies moving cattle to Eastern Asia to consider Olympia, due to its highly-trained labor force and strong team approach. Port of Olympia is proud to be connecting regional agricultural initiatives with global projects that diversify their cargo portfolio and help children around the world.