January 7, 2010

Schothorst Feed Research upgrades research facilities

An anticipated global increase in the demand for animal nutrition research and consultancy is the main driver for Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) in the Netherlands to extend and improve its research facilities in The Netherlands.

During 2010 two new research farms, one for dairy cows and one for laying hens, will be taken in production. Both facilities will comply with the latest requirements for sustainable farming. 

In addition, the plans for extension and improvement of the swine facilities are in an advanced stage and these swine facilities will become ready before 2012. About EUR9 million (US$13 million) will be invested. As a result, there will be an institute with up-to-date facilities to study and answer national and international questions concerning animal nutrition.

The new sustainable laying hen facilities will begin construction in the second half of 2010. This commercial state of the art production facility is based on the aviary type system to comply with the new European regulations of 2012. This facility will be equipped for research with two separate stables each with 40 different animal groups of 330 hens, to enable accurate statistical nutrition studies.

The new dairy cow facilities with 220 lactating cows will allow a doubling of the research capacity. A further extension to 340 cows is anticipated for the future.

SFR has contracts with the compounding feed industries and its suppliers in over 14 countries, especially for the delivery of knowhow on the nutritional value of animal feed raw materials.