Behind the scenes of a Uruguay–Turkey export journey organised by Hunland
A live animal sea shipment is never just a logistical task. Behind every single voyage there are months of preparation, cross border cooperation spanning several countries, and precisely coordinated professional work. Through the example of a South American shipment that departed from Uruguay and arrived in Turkey last December, we offer an insight into the complexity and key moments of such an operation.
Thousands of animals selected in a single day
At the heart of the project were nearly 3,700 breeding heifers, typically weighing 300–320 kilograms. The purchasing and preparation of the animals took place in Uruguay, in the area surrounding Montevideo. After procurement, each animal was kept under controlled conditions at a large open-air quarantine facility, awaiting final selection.
What made the selection process particularly remarkable was that all three buyers participated in person, selecting 200 Jersey and 3,500 Holstein breeding heifers. The entire process was completed within a single day—an outstanding achievement given the scale of the operation.
In total, only around 50 animals were excluded from the final loading. This clearly demonstrates the excellent quality of the initial livestock population and the thoroughness of the preliminary selection process. The required quantities were met for all buyers, at precisely the expected quality level.
A decade-long partnership in South America
One of the key factors behind the project’s success is strong local presence. In South America, we have been working with the same partner for more than ten years — a partner who lives locally, knows the market inside out, and organises procurement on the ground.
This long-term cooperation enables us to carry out large-scale projects safely and predictably.
Loading – not only the animals are travelling
Transportation was carried out by the Atlantic Rose, a six-deck vessel specifically designed for live animal transport. Loading the animals took approximately one and a half days, while loading the feed was completed within just a few hours in Spain.
For the 21-day journey, nearly 600 tons of feed and 75 tons of hay and straw were loaded onto the vessel—equivalent to around 30 truckloads.
The feed is not transported on pallets. Instead, the ship’s internal silo system allows feed to be delivered directly to the feeders on each deck through an automated system. This solution is both efficient and animal-friendly, minimizing handling and stress for the livestock.
Animal welfare on the open sea and during unloading
A crew of approximately 30 people worked on board to ensure the animals received proper care throughout the long voyage. The ship also had two veterinarians, who carried out daily health checks and sent regular reports to Hunland.
Watering is centrally managed as well: onboard purification systems convert seawater into drinking water, which is automatically distributed to the drinkers. The entire system is fully mechanised and continuously monitored.
Unloading in Turkey was carried out in several phases, adapted to buyer requirements. All 3,700 animals were successfully unloaded and handed over to satisfied customers in just eight and a half hours.
Not a one-off journey, but part of a proven system
From South America, we typically organize larger-volume, longer sea shipments. This year alone, nearly 25 vessels have been operated under Hunland’s coordination. The number of cattle transported depends on animal size, vessel capacity, and regulatory requirements, all of which are carefully considered during planning. In 2025, our ships transported between 2,000 and 10,000 head of cattle per voyage, with total cargo weights ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 tons.
Coordinated work, shared responsibility
The success of a sea shipment like this never depends on a single decision. Procurement, animal health, feeding, logistics, crew management, and buyer involvement are all interconnected. For Hunland, this is not an exceptional project but part of a well-functioning system—where professional experience, long-term partnerships, and responsibility for animal welfare go hand in hand. For us, a sea journey is not just about moving animals from point A to point B—it is about ensuring they arrive safely, under proper conditions, and in a reliable and predictable way.
