Schothorst Feed Research extends and improves

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.

Hence this will be representative state of the art facilities where statistically relevant nutrition research can be performed under practical farm conditions.

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.

In total about 9 million Euro 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.

International research
The management of SFR expects that due to the increased global demand for animal products and the shortage on the raw materials markets, that the international demand for the specific SFR knowhow and expertise will increase over the coming years.

Currently 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.

Unique aviairy layer house
The new sustainable laying hen facilities will be taken in production in the second half of 2010. This commercial state of the art production facility is based on the aviary (volières) type system to comply with the new European regulations of 2012.

This facility will be unique in the world as representative commercial stable 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. In the plans for this dairy facility a further extension to 340 cows is anticipated for the future.