Portions tailored to piglet needs – reliable and precise
Germany: Big Dutchman liquid feeding system becomes a family tradition
The Münsterland region has a long history of pig production. In the first half of the 20th century, almost every pig in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia was kept around the city of Münster – nine out of ten animals, with the district of Steinfurt being one of the most important centres. To this day, pig production is deeply rooted in the region. The Rottmann family’s farm in Ochtrup, district of Steinfurt, shows how tradition and investments in the future can go hand in hand. The family recently started operating a new piglet rearing house. The pig equipment, including the computer-controlled HydroMixpro liquid feeding system, was supplied by Big Dutchman.
The new building is the logical continuation of a journey that the Rottmann family has been on together with Big Dutchman for years. One example is the liquid feeding system. Installed in the existing farrowing house, it had already convinced the family – all the more reason to use it again in the new nursery.
Myriam and Franz-Josef Rottmann run the farm together with parents Christel and Leo Rottmann: a family business with two generations working side by side. The next generation is also growing up on the farm.
“This farm is a great example of all the requirements our liquid feeding systems must meet. They should be durable and expandable, and suit day-to-day operations,” says Big Dutchman Sales Manager Gerd Lübbers.
Liquid feeding system
A look at the liquid feeding system shows how these requirements are put into practice. Controlled by a computer, HydroMixpro mixes water and feed ingredients and distributes the portions to the pigs as needed.
This creates ideal conditions for high daily weight gains while keeping feed costs low; after all, feed is one of the biggest cost factors in livestock farming. Precisely calculated formulas and quantities dispensed to meet the pigs’ needs help reduce feed wastage in the trough and make efficient use of the ingredients.
This benefits day-to-day working life: HydroMixpro saves time and ensures reliable, predictable processes. The family does not need to make any manual adjustments – the feeding system operates exactly according to the set parameters.
Flooring and pens
But it’s not just the feed that matters to the piglets: the floor beneath their feet has to be the right one, too. Well-designed flooring systems and a penning system tailored to the specific needs of the piglets during the sensitive phase following weaning complement the equipment in the new house.
Digital management with a tangible impact
A quick reach for the tablet, a brief glance – and the Rottmann family knows exactly how things are going in the pig house. Made possible by the digital management assistant BigFarmNet, which combines liquid feeding, climate control, silo management and alarm management in a single software.
Data can be entered directly at the 510pro house controller but also at a PC or via smartphone – directly in the pig house, from home, or even on different farms. The data is updated automatically on all devices. The Rottmann family can thus easily keep an eye on the indoor environment and on production in real time – even across different locations.
To them, this means one thing above all: less work in the pig house – and more time for other tasks on the farm.
A farm with a future
For the farming family from Ochtrup, the new nursery is an investment in the future – and an answer to the question of how agricultural traditions can be sustained in the Münsterland region: through tried-and-tested technology, short distances and the courage to pass the business on to the next generation.
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