In an unprecedented operation, LATAM Cargo transported 840 heads of cattle from Puerto Montt, Chile to Quito, Ecuador, within the framework of the national sustainable livestock project, promoted by the government of Ecuador. The operation was divided into three flights, in which 280 bovines were loaded in 37 pens.
On March 30th, April 13th and 20th, the dairy breeds bovines Black Friesian and Kiwicross (crosses of Black Friesian and Jersey breeds), owned by the agricultural and services cooperative Cooprinsem were transported in Boeing 777F, specially designed for the transport of livestock. These aircrafts, with capacity to transport up to 104 tons, allow to maintain a strict control of pressure and temperature, guaranteeing the welfare of the animals during the six-hours travel. In addition, the bovines traveled accompanied by veterinarians to meet the animal’s needs.
Cooprinsem CEO Sergio Niklitschek said: “For the cooperative it is a great satisfaction to lead once again a process of exporting reproduction heifers, thanks to the excellent genetic and sanitary level of the cattle in our country, joined by the innovative force of our company”. Adding further that “in this unprecedented air export of 840 heifers to Ecuador, we want to highlight the excellent logistics service of LATAM Cargo and the optimal environmental conditions of temperature, humidity, pressure and ventilation of its Boeing 777 aircraft, allowing animals to arrive at their destination in perfect condition”.
In addition to LATAM Cargo and Cooprinsem, this operation was carried out with the support of the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), which allowed the market opening, defining the export protocol and ensuring that the animals complied with all stipulated requirements by the importing country.
The animals come from partners and clients that Cooprinsem has in the regions of Los Ríos and Los Lagos in Chile. Prior to its aerial export, the cattle remained in quarantine and was subjected to the managements and sanitary checks required by the destination country, all processes being supervised by both SAG and the government of Ecuador.
Once arrived at the country of destination, these heifers will be delivered to small producers’ communities, which will allow them to increase their milk production.
LATAM Cargo has extensive experience in the transport of all kinds of live animals and specially trained teams for these operations. Given this, within the framework of the Government of Ecuador program, the company has previously transported 4,000 sheep from Punta Arenas and a thousand bovines from Paraguay.