Our business
Overview
The primary function of SEPAB is the management of the transit of animals transported to the port of Sète.
For the maximum welfare of the animals, it is necessary to ensure that the arrival of the livestock vehicles coincides as well as possible with the immediate loading on the boats.
It reduces costs for the livestock importer.
Unloading
SEPAB pays particular attention to the immediate unloading of trucks as soon as they arrive at the port.
Several docks are available to ensure unloading ranging from 2 to 5 trucks simultaneously.
The design of the unloading docks and the animal reception area allows inspection of each animal by the veterinarian; but also the safety of the transporter and the animals when they get off the trucks with a non-slip floor covered with sawdust and straw.
Unloading is carried out by the SEPAB team, trained in good cattle handling practices.
Animal accommodation
On arrival, each animal is directed to a fully cleaned box. Fresh litter has been installed there (40 kg of straw per animal).
Depending on its size, each animal has more space than current European standards. Animal storage respects allotment by truck. Surveillance is permanent.
The fodder is distributed at will. The feed is adapted to different types of animals, depending on the exporter’s request.
In order to meet the needs of its customers, SEPAB has manufactured, in the form of granules, a food supplement to the forage ration. It is a food rich in proteins and cellulose, the composition of which can be varied depending on the type of cattle.
Boarding
The SEPAB manages the good circulation of animals from inside the park to the boarding gate. The dockers then take over for transporting the animals to the ship’s stabling boxes, identical in all respects to those in the SEPAB fleet.
The boarding lanes as well as the mobile platforms allow controlled and secure transport of animals to the livestock boats, in the order established by the exporter.
Three boats can be loaded at the same time, at a rate of 300 cattle per hour and per vessel, in strict compliance with sanitary rules.
SEPAB also manages the supply of hay, straw or food to livestock freighters.
Cleaning and disinfection
After boarding, the floors are swept either manually or by means of a mechanical sweeper. Tubulars and floors are then systematically cleaned with high pressure steam (160 bars).
Disinfection is done immediately, by spraying a bactericidal and virucidal solution on all surfaces.
The manure is loaded during each cleaning into the bins made available by a company specializing in the recycling of organic waste, then immediately evacuated to approved composting centers.
24 hour break
For long-distance transport, we welcome cattle and drivers for an optimal 24-hour break.
Animal welfare and health safety are at the heart of our concerns.
When storing cattle, we systematically respect the breakage of the truck in order to guarantee the best comfort for the animals.
Hay and straw are of course distributed at will and the watering is automatic.
We can also, on request, offer concentrate suitable for different types of animals.
The comfort of the drivers is also taken into account, with the provision of showers and toilets, rest room and kitchen.