Schothorst invests in laying hen research
The 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.
During 2010, 2 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, where statistically relevant nutrition research can be performed under practical farm conditions.
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.
The management of Schothorst Feed Research expects that, due to the increased global demand for animal products and the shortage on the raw materials markets, the international demand for the specific Schothorst Feed Research knowhow and expertise will increase over the coming years. The company currently 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.
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