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Electronic sow feeding system earns Seal of Approval
The American Humane Association (USA) has awarded the Seal of Approval for Humane Equipment to Big Dutchman’s CallMatic 2 electronic sow feeding system (ESF). Electronic sow feeding systems allow for true individual feeding of sows kept in group housing rather than in gestation crates during pregnancy, giving them the ability to move freely, rest comfortably and interact naturally with other sows. As concerns for animal welfare, demanding that sows are no longer confined to gestation stalls, are growing strongly all over the world, ESF is becoming an important and well accepted alternative system for effective sow management.
Perfecting electronic sow feeding systems for pig production units
Big Dutchman’s ‘CallMatic 2’ is the result of 30 years of continuous research and development in an effort to perfect electronic sow feedings systems for large and small pig production operations. It was also an effort towards more humane pig equipment concepts and technology – first requested and pushed by Europe – and is now being recognized and appreciated in North America. The Seal of Approval, received from the American Humane Association, is another important step ahead for substantial collaborations between hog producers, equipment manufacturers and welfare organizations.
The American Humane Association created America’s first third party audit and animal welfare certification program. Today food producers with more than 60 million farm animals have been certified by American Humane Association's science-based farm animal program, responding to consumer and retailer demand for an independent, third-party verification of their practices.
Modern pig equipment for group housing of sows
CallMatic 2 ESF systems are successfully running in numerous sow farms in the US, Canada and the rest of the world, providing sows with freedom of movement and true individual, undisturbed feeding. At the same time, the electronic sow feeding system pleases farmers with the advantage of a total management tool. The pig production results are similar in all operations: good sow performance, often better than before the transition to group housing and CallMatic.
Sow farmer extremely satisfied with swine equipment
Reed Gibby from Nature Farms in Idaho, who moved his 1100 sows into group housing with Callmatic 2 several years ago, is one of many satisfied customers and proud of his achievements with the ESF system: “We put the sows in dynamic groups and this has resulted in almost no fighting in groups.” Gibby adds: “We love the CallMatic system. We have seen an overall improvement with sow health: fewer lame sows and less problems in the farrowing department because sows are more mobile. The condition of the sows is much easier to maintain and we feel we also have fewer still born pigs”.
Hans Ulrich, Director of Pig Equipment Sales at Big Dutchman Inc., USA, an expert in automatic feeding and sow management who has worked with breeders for over 30 years, is happy to receive the Seal of Approval as formal acknowledgement for the superiority of the Big Dutchman system. But he also remarks, that for him “the best proof of the system’s benefits and accomplishments, is to hear our customers’ enthusiasm… or to see it for yourself, standing amidst a group of 120 placid sows, that are chilling together or just taking a walk – and interacting naturally.”
For more information on Big Dutchman's electronic sow feeding system CallMatic 2 ESF, visit: www.callmatic-esf.com
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Big Dutchman is the world’s largest pig equipment supplier for modern pig production. A new field of business is residue treatment. The complete product portfolio of the German family enterprise from Vechta-Calveslage includes all kinds of pig feeding systems and pig housing systems. Be it pig or sow management, be it dry feeding or liquid feeding systems or equipment for optimal pig house climate control: Big Dutchman offers the best equipment imaginable for every type of pig house.
Pig equipment for modern sow management - leaflet download:
Electronic sow feeding system CallMatic 2
Jack DeWitt’s company philosophy still influences the company
Founder of Big Dutchman Turns 100 Years Old
Jack DeWitt, the original “Big Dutchman”, turned 100 years old on January 30th, 2011. In 1938 Jack and his brother Dick DeWitt founded Big Dutchman and together they would design, develop, and sell the first automatic poultry feeding system. In addition to the revolutionary design featuring the flat chain concept, which remains the most popular poultry feeding technology in the world, they would develop many other products to modernize poultry production.
Today Josef Meerpohl and his family are the sole owners of Big Dutchman which is headed by Josef’s son, Bernd Meerpohl. Bernd, and Clovis Rayzel, the president of Big Dutchman USA, visited Jack at his home to wish him a happy birthday. At this time Jack was presented with a photo book in which Josef signed, “I will never forget that you brought the wonderful Big Dutchman idea into my life.”
In late January Big Dutchman celebrated its founders with a special historical display at the International Poultry Exposition, Atlanta (USA). Photographs and original equipment were featured at the show, emphasizing the solid foundation of the company.
“Even today, the company is influenced daily by Jack’s simple, ageless way of doing business”, agreed Bernd and Clovis. Bernd went on to say, “Jack DeWitt had a very simple philosophy, but it’s one that is time-tested in every way. He was very customer-focused and market-oriented, and this is a philosophy we hammer on every day.”
Jack and Dick DeWitt shaped the company early on to become the worldwide leading supplier for pig and poultry production. „We had a pretty good idea that sure beat shoveling out bird feed by hand. We just had to take it out to the rest of the world“, recollects Jack.
Jack sold his interest in the company in 1968, but stayed on as an advisor until 1971. In 1958, Josef Meerpohl from Vechta-Calveslage took over as sales agent for Northern Germany. In 1985 he acquired the whole company through a management buyout (at that time this did not include the sales rights for North and South America).
Today, the headquarters of the family enterprise are located in Vechta-Calveslage, Germany. Under the roof of the holding Big Dutchman AG managed by CEO Bernd Meerpohl, the innovative company group has been successful on the worldwide markets for years. In regard to development and distribution of housing and feeding systems for modern pig and poultry production, Big Dutchman is regarded as international market leader. The name Big Dutchman is a trade mark for reliable quality, fast service and unsurpassed know-how.
Planning and construction of biogas plants for agriculture and industry, indoor fish farms and, just recently, also systems for the generation of energy from biomass complete today’s product portfolio.
Big Dutchman trainees move on to new pastures
Malaysia, Michigan and much-to-do
“A very special highlight, not only with regard to my trainee programme at Big Dutchman, but also in the context of my whole life!” Furthermore: “That was the most exciting time I have ever spent and a period which I will never forget!“ The first hand reports from the Big Dutchman trainees Natalia Krieger and Christian Sauer about their internships in two of the companies subsidiaries in South East Asia and in North America both reflect a very similar tone. Indeed many aspects are almost identical. However the locations are very different, oceans apart in fact and also separated by various climate zones and, of course, thousands of kilometers – approximately 15,000 to be precise.
Moving on to new pastures
Natalia Krieger, who is participating in a dual study programme to qualify as an industrial engineer, spent her six week internship at Big Dutchman USA in Holland, Michigan. In the context of the American scale of things, only a stone’s throw away from Chicago and not far from the Canadian border. Trainee colleague and future mechanical engineer Christian Sauer found himself on the other side of the globe in a significantly warmer climate. His work place was Big Dutchman Asia in the direct vicinity of Kuala Lumpur, in the town of Shah Alam, in Malaysia.
Two international internships per year in subsidiary companies
The unique personal and professional experience enjoyed by these two youngsters, and which they obviously would not have wanted to miss for anything in the world, are the result of two in-house internships. These were offered by Big Dutchman for the first time. “Big Dutchman is a global player. Therefore we would also like this to be reflected in our trainee programme”, says Melanie Wilke, responsible for traineeships at Big Dutchman, by way of explanation for this new system of offering internships abroad.
“Furthermore, the young people take their cultural background with them to the foreign country and bring back their impressions of another kind of thinking and working. This forms a connecting link and brings the Big Dutchman family closer together despite the enormous distances which separate us geographically”, adds Melanie Wilke with reference to the other positive side effects.
The experience was almost free of charge for the trainees because Big Dutchman paid for their flights and accommodation. Nevertheless it wasn’t just a simple question of boarding a plane: Competition for these two internships was extremely stiff. In addition to a good performance at school and on the training programme, an outstanding application with a good cover letter explaining the motivation behind their interest were required in order to convince the jury.
Malaysia, Michigan – and much-to-do
Although North America and South East Asia are popular holidays destinations for Germans – for the trainees work was in the focus of their stay at the subsidiary companies. In Holland as well as in Shah Alam, the trainees were fully integrated in the working process by their colleagues and were also expected to make their full contribution. “And that, of course, was exactly the intention of the project“, the training manager grins as she reports on the positive development.
Positive indeed for both sides, as the first hand reports reflect: photocopying and making coffee were not part of their duties; instead they had the opportunity to work independently on interesting projects and tasks. Natalia Krieger, for example, carried out a comparison of the German and the American after sales service and extracted the best of both worlds, specially geared to suit the American structures. “The complete project, right through from the initial research until the conclusion was subsequently documented by me in a project file and also presented by me”, explains the budding industrial engineer, conveying her pleasure in this exciting task. Christian Sauer was able to apply his first mechanical engineering knowledge gained in training and at university very successfully in his work.
The globe trotters also talked very enthusiastically about their colleagues who were always pleased to offer their help and support as well as to show Natalia the American and Christian the Malaysian “way of life”: “I was particularly impressed by the very helpful and friendly people“, the budding mechanical engineer summed up his positive experiences. “It was a pleasure for me to work together with the American colleagues”, Natalia Krieger concluded.
First work – and then pleasure
Last, but not least trips to famous sights like the Niagara Falls or - on the other side of the globe - the paradise-like sandy beaches which many of us only know from exotic post cards have naturally also triggered a certain euphoria. All in all, the saying is also true for foreign interns: First work - and then pleasure. A saying which Natalia Krieger und Christian Sauer knew how to implement….
Now the cards are being re-shuffled for the next round
“The internships abroad were a total success for all concerned. So we will be repeating the project next year”, said Melanie Wilke explaining the plans for the future. “After hearing such enthusiastic reports, the next candidates are getting ready to submit their applications.”
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Big Dutchman is the world’s largest equipment supplier for modern pig production and poultry production. A new field of business is residue treatment. The poultry equipment supplier provides solutions for barn, free range and organic egg production as well as egg production in enriched colony systems and poultry cages, for poultry growing, turkey production and breeder management, but also for poultry climate control.
Big Dutchman also provides a complete product program for successful pig production. Be it pig rearing or sow management, be it dry feeding or liquid feeding systems or equipment for optimal pig house climate control: Big Dutchman offers the best pig equipment imaginable for every poultry and pig house.
“The Vietnam market is a very significant business opportunity”
New representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Big Dutchman is pleased to announce the opening of its representative office in the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The establishment of this office will enable Big Dutchman to collect local information and promote its services and products in response to the fast growing market. With combined efforts from the Asia-Pacific and Ho Chi Minh City teams, Big Dutchman is committed to serve its customers in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr Pooyot Prommanee, chief representative of the Big Dutchman’s representative office, said: "The Vietnam market is a very significant business opportunity for Big Dutchman.” The opening of our new representative office further demonstrates our commitment to our customers in Vietnam, which continues to be important, and its high-growth area for technology and equipment for modern poultry and pig management.
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Big Dutchman is the world’s largest equipment supplier for modern pig production and poultry production. A new field of business is residue treatment. The poultry equipment supplier provides solutions for barn, free range and organic egg production as well as egg production in enriched colony systems and poultry cages, for poultry growing, turkey production and breeder management, but also for poultry climate control.
Big Dutchman also provides a complete product program for successful pig production. Be it pig rearing or sow management, be it dry feeding or liquid feeding systems or equipment for optimal pig house climate control: Big Dutchman offers the best pig equipment imaginable for every poultry and pig house.
Big Dutchman at VIETSTOCK Expo & Conference
Modern poultry systems and pig equipment attract visitors
The recently held VIETSTOCK Expo & Conference which took place in Ho Chi Minh City proved a big success for Big Dutchman: for three days the companies’ representatives welcomed a steady flow of visitors to their booth at Vietnam’s number one feed and livestock trade show. Thanks to the successful planning and organising, which was made possible by the team efforts from its Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia offices, Big Dutchman’s custom-built stand design won the “Best Booth Design” at the VIESTOCK Expo & Conference.
With a booth size of 72 m², Big Dutchman showcased a variety of its poultry and pig equipment, such as cage equipment, nest systems, feeding and drinking systems for egg and meat production; as well as housing equipment and feeding systems for modern pig management. Also featured at the show were Big Dutchman’s climate and control systems for poultry & pig management.
Throughout the show, key individuals from both the poultry and pig sectors visited the Big Dutchman booth and showed great interest in its product range.
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Big Dutchman is the world’s largest equipment supplier for modern pig production and poultry production. A new field of business is residue treatment. The poultry equipment supplier provides solutions for barn, free range and organic egg production as well as egg production in enriched colony systems and poultry cages, for poultry growing, turkey production and breeder management, but also for poultry climate control.
Big Dutchman also provides a complete product program for successful pig production. Be it pig rearing or sow management, be it dry feeding or liquid feeding systems or equipment for optimal pig house climate control: Big Dutchman offers the best pig equipment imaginable for every poultry and pig house.
