History of Firma Schaap
Exporters of livestock since 1880
Our story starts in 1880
Our story starts in 1880, when our great-grandfather Hoite Evert Schaap exports the first Dutch dairy cattle to Germany and the Kaliningrad area.
1870-1900
Following the wave of emigrants from Europe to the USA, Friesian cattle was exported to the new-world, especially during the period from 1870 till 1900.
1907
Firma Schaap set up its own distribution centers in the Baltic provinces of Rusia (Jaunogre Latvia) and in Sweden.
Friesland, the home of the (Holstein) Friesian dairy cattle was getting more and more famous for its well bred dairy cows those days. Interested people from everywhere visited the area, to watch the progress in breeding with their own eyes.
1913
Dutch Royal Family visits the farms of Firma Schaap in Dearsum, Friesland. Queen H.M. Wilhelmina and HRH Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands visit Firma Schaap.
1936
Hoite R. Schaap, the 3rd generation, started the export to countries in South America, especially to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Photo’s: 1937 The heifers and bulls on the vessels to Peru in South America!
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1945
Hoite E. Schaap and Libbe van der Velde went as cattle attendants with a boatload heifers and bulls to Santos, Brazil in December 1945.
1950
In 1950 Ale Tjallema, and in 1958 Auke Nijdam joined the team. They were responsible for South America, South East Europe, and countries like France, Morocco and Algeria.
1960
A Russian trade delegation visited Friesland to explore the quality of the Friesian cattle. Soon after that the first boatloads with pregnant heifers left the harbour of Harlingen for Klaipeda. From there the animals were distributed to many farms in different areas in the former Soviet Union.
With a hick-up in the ninetees, Russia is an important business partner and till today every year thousands of heifers are transported to different farms spread over Russia.
1970
„One cow per family – programme“
During the seventies, thousands of heifers were shipped by vessel to Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya. The programme „one cow per family“ was executed by the government in Libya, so dairy cattle was purchased from many European countries.
Another „air bridge“ was the export of 2400 heifers to the so-called „Saadco-project“ in Al Kharj in Saudi Arabia. Alfalaval (now: Delaval) was the main contractor for a mega cow project in the desert, just south of Riyadh.
1980
In the period from 1980 till 2000 many dairy farms have been set up in the Middel East countries such as Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. The growing welfare resulted in a higher demand for fresh dairy products in these countries.
Also Mediterranean countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunesia, Algeria and Morocco imported a lot of dairy cattle during those years, (and they actually still do!).
Africa
During the seventies and eighties, dairy heifers and bulls from Firma Schaap are exported to Zambia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon and Nigeria.
1990
After 1990 the political situation changed in the former USSR countries and created a fast economic development. That is why Eastern Europe became a very important market for us, especially Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Russia.
Royals
During our long history Firma Schaap supplied special deliveries to royal farms in Jordan, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Or to presidential breeding farms such as the one owned by president Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya.
2000-today
Now 140 years later, we are still continuing our way of doing business by serving quality, knowledge, loyalty and perfection. That’s how we are serving farmers all around the world for already 5 generations!
We are proud of being part of the dairy future in Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Asia!
Today the 4th generation, Nammen, and 5th generation, Hoite of the Schaap family is active in the company.
Together with a team of experienced and dedicated people we are at your service!
Do you have any questions or want a quotation for importing heifers?
Interested in importing heifers?
Are you interested in importing heifers? You can use our contact form, email our salesteam or give us a message on Whatsapp, Telegram or Skype.
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