Schothorst Feed Research puts renewed experimental facilities for broilers into operation.

Renewed experimental facilities for broilers were put into operation on 19 December at Schothorst Feed Research.

The facility has 192 floor pens divided over two rooms. Every pen can house 20 broilers. The facility is equipped with a new lighting system that simulates the natural transition from dark to light. Besides the standard measurements like body weight (gain) and feed intake, it is also possible to measure water intake per pen.

The poultry team is enthusiastic about the possibilities in the new facilities. “We are able to study complex interactions between feed ingredients and we can study the effects on water intake. This is something that is requested regularly by clients”, according to Ellen van Eerden PhD, senior researcher poultry nutrition.

Because of the worldwide increase in consumption of poultry meat, it is expected that the demand for nutritional research related to poultry will increase. The research themes and questions, that are dealt with by Schothorst Feed Research, are of worldwide relevance. Both in- and outside of Europe is a lot of attention for reduction of antibiotics, reduction of mineral excretion, alternative protein sources and the use of by-products. “Therefore, the research performed at Schothorst Feed Research has a global impact”, according to Loek de Lange MSc, senior consultant poultry nutrition.