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Big Dutchman novelties for breeder management
Poultry managers should be excited: Big Dutchman has recently launched two novelties for breeder management and presents both at the VIV Russia 2013. The group laying nest “Relax”, which is particularly well suited for broiler breeders, will be on display for the first time in Russia. It is equipped with two separate, easy-to-lift nest roofs which significantly facilitates nest and egg belt inspection.
Another new feature is the egg belt with a three-point bearing design: thanks to the increased share of perforated surface and the triangular shape of the holes, contact surfaces between the eggs and the egg belt are minimised. Eggs that are rolling off are slowed down gently which reduces the number of hair-cracked and dirty eggs.
“Relax” is made of high-quality, durable materials, increasing nest acceptance and improving nest hygiene. The smooth surfaces facilitate cleaning and reduce the bacteria load as well as insect infestation during the grow-out. “Relax” has been designed as a nearly screw-less connector system and can therefore be installed easily and rapidly.
Breeder management with Univent cages for AI
The second Big Dutchman novelty for breeder management is a new generation of poultry cages developed specifically for the reproduction of layer and broiler breeders by means of artificial insemination (AI). With the Univent UV-S550 (PS) for breeder rearing and UV-P500-AI for hen management during egg production, two members of this family of innovative breeder cages are on display at the VIV Russia. These new developments make Big Dutchman one of the first suppliers of poultry equipment responding to the trend of using AI in hatching egg production to reach a better fertility and to make greater use of the genetic potential of the birds.
The development was inspired by a classic Big Dutchman product: For decades now, egg producers from all over the world swear by the Univent layer cages. The system is especially popular because of its long service life and high functionality as well as the ideal conditions it provides for both humans and layers. All these successful features have also been applied to the Univent breeder cages for AI. Some of these are the flexible flooring designed for optimum egg quality and the zinc-aluminium coating of all wire parts: This special alloy resists corrosion and rust more effectively than regular cage material, thus ensuring a longer service life. Naturally, the systems can also be equipped with manure belt ventilation.
Broiler cage AviMax transit
One more Big Dutchman recipe for success is presented at VIV Russia: the broiler cage AviMax transit. This system combines the advantages of a broiler cage with the benefits of a manure belt system that doubles as a highly efficient way of transporting the broilers out of the house. Unsurpassed features are the patented, easy-to-operate pivoting floors for a quick and cost-effective moving-out process of the birds. In addition, this innovative technology is gentle to the birds and permits a low system height.
Two different system types of AviMax transit broiler cages are available: AviMax transit 655 is perfectly suited for buildings with low ceilings. Thanks to the pivoting floors, complete rows of birds are quickly moved out so that the birds can be transported outside automatically. The pivoting floors and means of bird transport are also found in the second system type, AviMax transit 775. This system also allows for a quick moving-out procedure of either complete rows or only part of the rows.
Other advantages of AviMax transit include litter-free broiler finishing and thus very hygienic growing conditions. This results in healthy, uniform flocks, increased growth rates and improved feed conversion so that an additional batch can be produced per year. The flooring of the cages is made of flexible, soft plastic which prevents breast blisters and minimizes the risk of skin and feet injuries.
Hall 8, stand 34E1/35F1
Broiler cage AviMax: for further reading please click here!
Comprehensive information on our product line for breeder management can be found here.
Innovative automatic single laying nest NXB
CAHE 2013: Big Dutchman equipment for successful breeding management
At this year’s China Animal Husbandry Expo (CAHE), Wuhan, Big Dutchman introduces an innvoative automatic single laying nest which is especially well suited for broiler breeders. NXB features different numbers of nest holes (20, 18 and 16 holes per section), thus covering the requirements of different breeding lines. The eggs gently roll into a central egg channel and are automatically transported from the barn by means of an egg belt.
The nest bottom is covered with a perforated nest insert which is easy to install, or taken out for easy cleaning. The partitions between the individual nest holdes are made of plastic and can be opened at any time. The nest roof is made of sheet metal and allows the producer easy access of the egg belt for inspection. A tube can be centrally activated to close all nest holes for the night, keeping nests clean and preventing hens sleeping inside of the nest.
Another advantage is that nest floor and substrucutre below the egg belt consist of corrosion-proof zinc-aluminium coated wire grate for extended service life. The NXB nests have already been successfully tested in several poultry houses in Asia and the US.
Another highlight for breeder management on display is Big Dutchman’s ventilated EUROVENT-Parents manure belt battery for layer breeders. The poultry cages are characterised by the production of clean hatching eggs, a low salmonella risk, an optimum bird number in the poultry house and low labour and control requirements. The cage width and therefore the flock size can be specified by the customer.
Hall A1, Booth number A03
Dates and opening hours
Saturday 18 May 2013, 9.00 – 17.00 hrs
Sunday 19 May 2013, 9.00 – 17.00 hrs.
Monday 20 May 2013, 10.00 – 16.00 hrs.
Location
Wuhan International Expo Center
No. 619 Yingwu Avenue, Hanyang district, Wuhan, Hubei province, 430052
China
For more information please contact:
bdcnsales@bigdutchman.com
www.bigdutchman.com
LED lamps for poultry growing – the dimmer is what’s important
Saving money with the new LED technology for poultry houses
For the broilers on Dirk Bockhorst's farm, the morning starts leisurely. As if the sun were rising, the lights are slowly turned on in the houses located in Emstek, Lower Saxony, Germany. Happy clucking can be heard all around. Until warm light illuminates the houses half an hour later. This light does not come from standard 40 watt light bulbs but is provided by high-quality LED lamps. A special dimmer which ensures that the birds are not stressed and does not interfere with other technologies used in the poultry house is included.
Farmer Bockhorst replaced his light bulbs about a year ago. The old power-guzzling bulbs had to yield and make room for low-energy LED bulbs. One lamp costs more than 20 euros, but the new technology has a significantly longer service life and saves a lot of energy. Bockhorst has amortised his investment after one year already. He spent 4,000 euros on the new lamps – and saved nearly the exact same amount in energy costs up to today. After this first year, he will thus save 4,000 euros annually, increases in the price for electricity not included.
New LED technology for poultry houses
The change-over from old to new required less effort than Bockhorst had expected. “I replaced all light bulbs myself,” reports the 42-year-old farmer. Naturally, the high-quality LED bulbs fit the standard threads for electric lamps used in the poultry house. Big Dutchman supported Bockhorst during the installation of the centrepiece of the new system.
This centrepiece is the dimmer. Without this dimmer, the whole system would not work. Farmer Bockhorst would not save nearly as much money without it. The module is installed in the service room of each house and connected to the farm computer. The computer controls the dimmer and indicates when and with which intensity the lights should be on.
Big Dutchman only sells the LED technology with the dimmer developed in the company’s headquarters in Calveslage. Compared to simpler devices, the Big Dutchman dimmer does not create any flickering so that the animals stay very calm, explains product manager Nils Neugebauer. His team put a lot of effort into the development of the dimmer to ensure that the device does not blow fuses by error or cause PC crashes – a common problem with standard dimmers.
Growing poultry without stress
Another unique feature of the Big Dutchman dimmer: It can be controlled steplessly down to 0 percent. This characteristic ensures that additional cost-savings when the technology is used in poultry houses. Most other dimmers turn off at a percentage of 20 to 30, says Neugebauer. This can cause stress for the chickens.
Meanwhile, Dirk Bockhorst's broilers do not even know what stress is. His stock is doing as well as ever after the replacement of the lamps.
In addition to the new lighting system in the poultry house, all other equipment has also been purchased from Big Dutchman. This link will lead you to an overview of our systems for poultry growing.
Reducing heating costs and emissions in poultry houses
Reducing heating costs and emissions in poultry houses
With Big Dutchman's heat exchanger Earny, poultry managers can save up to 60 percent of heating costs for their poultry house during the winter. However, there is even more to Earny: The heat exchanger also reduces dust, ammonia and odour emissions as determined by the measurements of the accredited laboratory LUFA Nordwest in Oldenburg, Germany. Emissions play an important role in many regions regarding permits, statutory requirements or even subsidies.
Exhaust air treatment with Earny
"Nearly all total dust and fine dust in the exhaust air is filtered out when the air flows through the Big Dutchman heat exchanger. Overall, this means a reduction of dust emissions of up to 30 percent per year for the total house exhaust air," explains product manager Axel Schulz. Due to the high filter and separation rates, exhaust air and emission source do not usually have to be recalculated.
The percentage of fine dust and bioaerosols can be lowered by up to 51 percent where Earny is used in combination with Big Dutchman's StuffNix dust filter. LUFA's further measurements illustrate the additional benefits the heat exchanger can provide for farmers: A poultry house equipped with Earny emitted 29 percent less ammonia compared to an identically constructed house without heat exchanger. Odour was also reduced. "These aspects are becoming ever more important for authorities regarding future permits," says Axel Schulz.
Flexible size – flexible colour: solutions for poultry houses
To date, Big Dutchman's heat exchanger Earny has been offered in three sizes for 20,000 to 46,000 birds. Now, the possibility to use Earny for two houses constructed next to each other has been added. Thanks to its compact structure, an additional building permit is not required for the Earny versions with an air capacity between 12,000 and 16,000m3/hour. Another supporting argument for permits: The new Earny versions are available in different colours and thus do not stand out from the landscape.
Our heat exchanger for your poultry house – find the leaflet here.
Take a look at our leaflets on exhaust air treatment systems – including StuffNix – here. Go ahead and browse around!
Poultry house for 40,000 broilers expands the production branch
Poultry growing in new house equipped with Big Dutchman poultry systems
Ulrike and Norbert Martkfort from Westladbergen, Westphalia, Germany, are experts in the area of poultry growing: They built their first broiler house ten years ago. The couple has now expanded this production branch with a new house for 40,000 broilers – also in the light of knowing that their eldest son is planning to continue his parents’ family business. Approximately 300 visitors recently followed the invitation for an open house to see the new poultry house as well as the poultry systems provided by Big Dutchman.
The new, 20 x 90 meter large building is located right on the farm, guaranteeing short distances. In accordance with the effective requirements of the German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz), the window area amounts to three percent of the house floor area.
Poultry growing in Big Dutchman poultry systems
The Marktfort family employs a partial depletion system: About one third of the broilers is moved out after 32 days with a weight of approximately 1,600 grams. The remaining two thirds stay in the poultry house until the end of the growing period. The Marktforts always have reliable numbers on their broilers’ weight thanks to Big Dutchman’s bird weigher Swing 20. The scale has been accepted fully by the birds, resulting in plenty of weighings and thus precise weight data.
Feed is supplied via Augermatic, a classic Big Dutchman product for poultry growing. A total of four feed lines have been installed. Fresh drinking water is of course also supplied: The broilers can access fresh water at any time from a total of eight drinking lines. The Marktfort family took care to comply with animal welfare requirements in this regard as well: The drinking lines are equipped with the required 3,000 nipple drinkers.
Fresh air enters the house via the air inlets in the side walls. At one end of the poultry house, a 12-meter exhaust air tower with 14 chimneys was constructed. With this tower, the Martkfort family has met one more requirement for the construction of livestock houses which regulates an exit speed of 7 m/s.
You can find our housing systems for poultry growing here – have a look around!
