On 5 October 2011, Piet van der Aar, Research Director of Schothorst Feed Research and Steffen Rouwers, Technical Director Sloten B.V. signed an intensive partnership.
In the coming five years Schothorst Feed Research will conduct research for Sloten with calves from birth to weaning, in relation to milk yield at a later stage of life. The research will focus on the validation of Sloten’s vision “Life Start sets Life Performance”. Research already showed that particularly the quality of rearing in the first few weeks of life plays a decisive role in a sustainable and optimal life production of dairy cows.
For many years, Schothorst Feed Research is conducting research for Sloten B.V on piglet feeding. This co-operation will now be intensified for Sprayfo calf milk replacers. Setting up research from calf's birth to end of several lactations is unique in the Netherlands and Europe. For both companies the partnership will create opportunities to translate scientific data into concrete rearing and nutritional programmes for the first weeks of life. On the one hand the research will focus on the effect of calf rearing on milk yield. On the other hand the options to reduce the application of antibiotics in the beef industry will be examined.
“We are very happy with this partnership which helps us to further shape our vision. Optimal youth growth will lead to healthy and strong calves with better performance as dairy cows. This new rearing strategy will also result in higher weights and better immunity of beef calves, ready for fattening. Therewith the standard group-wise medication with antibiotics will not be necessary. This is what we mean with Life Start sets Life Performance and we would like to confirm this”, explains Steffen Rouwers, Technical Director Sloten B.V.
“In the coming period we will equip special research facilities. The stables needs to offer housing to 80 calves, will accommodate different age groups and will be provided with drinking machines. Bull calves will have separate accommodation. We expect to have our new facilities ready before the end of this year. With new insights and farm management protocols we hope to make a valuable contribution to a sustainable livestock industry”, adds Piet van der Aar, Research Director at Schothorst Feed Research.
In the coming five years Schothorst Feed Research will conduct research for Sloten with calves from birth to weaning, in relation to milk yield at a later stage of life. The research will focus on the validation of Sloten’s vision “Life Start sets Life Performance”. Research already showed that particularly the quality of rearing in the first few weeks of life plays a decisive role in a sustainable and optimal life production of dairy cows.
For many years, Schothorst Feed Research is conducting research for Sloten B.V on piglet feeding. This co-operation will now be intensified for Sprayfo calf milk replacers. Setting up research from calf's birth to end of several lactations is unique in the Netherlands and Europe. For both companies the partnership will create opportunities to translate scientific data into concrete rearing and nutritional programmes for the first weeks of life. On the one hand the research will focus on the effect of calf rearing on milk yield. On the other hand the options to reduce the application of antibiotics in the beef industry will be examined.
“We are very happy with this partnership which helps us to further shape our vision. Optimal youth growth will lead to healthy and strong calves with better performance as dairy cows. This new rearing strategy will also result in higher weights and better immunity of beef calves, ready for fattening. Therewith the standard group-wise medication with antibiotics will not be necessary. This is what we mean with Life Start sets Life Performance and we would like to confirm this”, explains Steffen Rouwers, Technical Director Sloten B.V.
“In the coming period we will equip special research facilities. The stables needs to offer housing to 80 calves, will accommodate different age groups and will be provided with drinking machines. Bull calves will have separate accommodation. We expect to have our new facilities ready before the end of this year. With new insights and farm management protocols we hope to make a valuable contribution to a sustainable livestock industry”, adds Piet van der Aar, Research Director at Schothorst Feed Research.
