Feeding on the cutting edge

‘It is always my challenge to feed on the cutting edge’ my challenge to feed on the cutting edge’

Jeroen Rohaan from Enter in the Dutch province of Overijssel has a layer farm with 66,000 aviary hens of Overijssel has a layer farm with 66,000 aviary hens and 30,000 free-range hens on 16 hectares of land. and 30,000 free-range hens on 16 hectares of land. Since 2000, Jeroen and his family have lived at this Since 2000, Jeroen and his family have lived at this location after taking over the farm from Jeroen’s location after taking over the farm from Jeroen’s parents. He uses split feeding to improve the already parents. He uses split feeding to improve the already low feed conversion rate even more.

In 2000, Rohaan still kept dairy cattle and laying hens, but after selling the cattle, he invested in the expansion of the layer farm. With the most recent investment last year: an extension from 65,000 to 96,000 hens was realised by adding an extra fl oor to the aviary house. ‘There used to be a lot of rivers and streams in this area, creating a very variable soil for the fi rst few meters. Building a multi-storey poultry house starting at one and a half meters below surface level was cheaper than investing in soil improvement and constructing a single-storey house on it.’ Rohaan supplies eggs to egg trading company Hennes Euskirchen. A small number of the eggs are sold at a home sales point. ‘It is always my challenge to feed on the cutting edge’, says Rohaan. ‘A feed conversion of 2.05 is not strange to me. I do feed more luxurious feed, which is necessary with such a low feed conversion, especially in the fi rst six months. In those fi rst 30 weeks, the hens must be able to develop optimally. To get enough robustness in the hen and a good resistance, a more luxurious feed is a must for me.’

Challenge of new feeding system

He uses split feeding: the hens receive a diff erent feed in the morning than in the afternoon. Peter Venhuis, laying poultry specialist at ForFarmers, has been a familiar face on Rohaan’s farm for years: ‘With SplitFeeding we feed even more according to the needs of the hens; 40% of the feed is given in the morning and is high in protein, the afternoon feed is high in calcium because that is when the shell is formed.’

especially in the fi rst six months. In those fi rst 30 weeks, the hens must be able To get enough robustness in the hen and a good resistance, a more luxurious feed is a must

Challenge of new feeding system

He uses split feeding: the hens receive a diff erent feed in the morning than in the afternoon. Peter Venhuis, laying poultry specialist at ForFarmers, has been a familiar face on Rohaan’s farm for years: ‘With SplitFeeding we feed even more according to the needs of high in protein, the afternoon

If it works for me, it should work for many more layer farmers!

JEROEN ROHAAN

‘We have seen that in this way, three grams of feed per hen per day can be saved. This is an average saving, which can probably be even higher for entrepreneurs like Jeroen. A challenge we were happy to take on with him.’ The adjustment took the necessary time. ‘The switch-over moment is very precise’, says Rohaan. ‘Halfway through the feeding session, the supply from the silo stops and the hoppers are then fed empty. After feeding, the hoppers are filled with the other feed, so that when the next feeding session starts, the second type of feed can be started immediately. It is therefore important to accurately estimate what is left in the feeding line up to the hoppers. You also need to know as accurately as possible how much is being fed each day in order to divide it properly over the 40/60 ratio.’ Rohaan records after each feeding how many kilos and from which silo he has fed and regularly recalculates the feed ratio. occupied by it’, says Rohaan. ‘It is searching for the right balance again. I had to keep an extra close eye on the feed intake and make corrections where necessary, for instance if the hens eat less during a warm period. I have found that balance now.’ ‘If it turns out like Peter predicted, and we can deliver first-class eggs for four weeks longer, that means 23 eggs per hen’, says Rohaan. ‘And if you can save a few grams of feed at the same time... then it becomes really interesting!’

Poultry farmer Jeroen Rohaan (left) and laying bird specialist Peter Venhuis (right) at the feed silos.