More than 25 years of silent power behind SFR's technical department

André Blok has been working at Schothorst Feed Research since 1990. He began as an animal caretaker, but after five years, a reorganization offered him the opportunity to transition to the technical department. To make this change, André had to retrain in technical skills, something he has never regretted. “My job is incredibly diverse,” he says with a smile. “From building and maintaining barns to managing feed and water dosing systems and much more, including the technical equipment in offices and laboratories. Sometimes the work can be unpredictable, and you have to be able to respond quickly to malfunctions, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable. When you can fix an issue, everyone’s happy!”

The maintenance service is an essential part of Schothorst. Well-functioning equipment is crucial for any agricultural business, but for a research company like Schothorst, it’s even more important. “If a feeding system breaks down, the cows, pigs, or chickens won’t be fed. Aside from the animals not receiving feed, experiments could be jeopardized,” André explains.

Over the years, many processes at Schothorst have been mechanized and automated. This has made the work less labor-intensive, more efficient, and reduced the risks of errors. As a result, the technical department has become even more important, with many different systems requiring maintenance and repairs. “For example, we monitor the feed and water intake per pen for laying hens and broilers, and we have a roughage robot for the cows. These systems need to keep running because, without these installations and machines, the research can’t continue,” says André.

Currently, we are setting up our young livestock barn for young stock research. Another recent innovation is measuring methane emissions from dairy cattle using a GreenFeed sensor. This device measures the air a cow exhales while eating concentrated feed and analyzes the methane emissions. “It’s a fascinating technology for researchers, especially with the current focus on climate change.”

Additionally, the technical department manages the energy supply for the entire research facility and maintains contacts with contractors, installers, and dealers.

What André values most about working at Schothorst is the open communication and good relationships with colleagues. “Everyone is involved and contributes their part to the process. We’re engaged from budget discussions to the delivery of the barn or installation, and together we ensure
thoughtful investments. That feels really good!”

Working conditions contribute to job satisfaction

Henk den Hartigh started his career at Schothorst Feed Research in 1983 as a lab analyst, working just twenty hours a week. "I wasn’t only in the lab, I also helped with poultry research. For example, I 'milked' roosters for hen insemination," he says with a laugh. By the late ‘80s, veterinary tasks were added to his role, such as drawing blood and histology. Since the early 90s, he became head of the analytical and zoological lab, and he led the team with great joy until 2022.

Henk lives in 't Harde, between Harderwijk and Zwolle, about a half-hour drive from Schothorst. "In the beginning, the analytical lab work and veterinary lab tasks were separate, but over the years, they have increasingly merged," he explains. Nowadays, animal technicians also fall under the lab's responsibilities. "It makes sense that the person collecting the samples also understands what analyses will be done with them."

Over the years, Henk has witnessed many changes in the lab. "For instance, we moved from the traditional Kjeldahl method for nitrogen analysis to Dumas, and NIRS has replaced many wet-chemical analyses," he shares. “We now have specialized equipment that makes the work for analysts simpler and more efficient.” Information technology and artificial intelligence, with self-learning algorithms, also play a key role in research today. “But human expertise remains indispensable. A critical eye is needed to spot errors in lab results and implement improvements,” Henk believes.

Two years ago, Henk transitioned from Head of the lab to quality control and occupational health services. He was already conducting audits for Schothorst, Lloyds, and Voederwaarde.nl. “The goal of an audit is always to improve as an organization, not to hold people accountable for small mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, as long as you learn from them,” he emphasizes.

Henk enjoys the process-oriented work and sees audits as an opportunity to highlight issues and suggest improvements. "Of course, you also need to identify risks and deliberate errors, but it's always about the shared objective," he explains.

In his role with the occupational health service, Henk advises internally on working conditions, but the final responsibility lies with management. “No one wants employees to suffer injuries because the work is too physically demanding or someone falls down the stairs,” says Henk. He notes that occupational safety regulations are often viewed as bureaucratic, but he feels that this view is misplaced. “Safety really needs to be in everyone’s mindset. I’d rather you take longer to do a task safely than rush and get hurt.”

Henk acknowledges that it can be difficult to make people see the importance of safety regulations. “Often, you don’t notice the damage until later, when it could have been prevented,” he says. He stresses the importance of good leadership, practical workspaces, and making sure safety goggles and helmets are available. “Even if you’ve been driving a forklift for years, you need a forklift license. Without that license, the entire organization could be in trouble if something goes wrong.”

Inspections and regulations are becoming stricter, especially in terms of working conditions. But according to Henk, proper documentation and compliance with the rules are essential for creating a safe working environment.

Collaboration makes it enjoyable

Jaap started at Schothorst Feed Research in August 1982 as a pig caretaker, right after attending agricultural school. "In my first year, I also had the opportunity to explore other animal species, which gave me a good understanding of the entire operation," he says. Schothorst is a research company, which makes the work slightly different compared to a regular livestock farm. Jaap still regularly helps with research involving cattle and poultry. “It’s great how well everyone works together here, and how we support each other during busy research periods. It also adds variety to the work,” he says with satisfaction.

Jaap grew up in Putten on his family’s farm with cows and pigs, and he still commutes to Lelystad every day.

He was also involved in creating research feeds. “These feeds must meet the client’s exact requirements,” he explains. That’s why Schothorst collaborates with a trial feed factory that offers flexible production options.

Over time, Jaap returned full-time to working in the barn. Over the past few decades, he has witnessed many changes: "The work has become less physically demanding. In the early years, we had to carry a lot of straw and feed bags. Weighing piglets was also heavy work, but now everything is mechanized and automated, which makes things much easier."

Due to new regulations in livestock farming, a lot has changed, especially in housing. Jaap explains, “Our sows now roam freely in the farrowing pens, and we stopped tail docking piglets and beak trimming hens years ago.” Such transitions require thorough research. “We need to carefully examine the impact on feed compositions, for example, with free-roaming sows or preventing feather pecking and cannibalism in hens.”

The staff has also grown significantly since Jaap started, from around forty to about a hundred employees. “We now have more international colleagues. Sometimes communication can be challenging for the barn staff, but we always manage to make it work with gestures. It’s great that management encourages foreign researchers to learn Dutch.”

There have been many upgrades to the facilities too, from new barns to a refreshed canteen.

“Collaboration here is always strong,” says Jaap. “I can easily walk into the lab or speak with the researchers for a quick discussion. And there’s real attention for each other, which creates a positive work atmosphere and a good balance between work and home life.” That culture allows everyone at Schothorst to "grow and thrive," Jaap concludes with a smile.

A small team with big impact

Jack attended agricultural school in Zwolle, specializing in pigs and poultry farming. In August 1996, he joined Schothorst Feed Research as a poultry caretaker. "At that time, we had three barns: for laying hens, broilers, and parent stock, and there were only three of us working. Over the years, we’ve added more barns, animals, and staff," he explains. In addition to regular duties, Schothorst also conducts nutritional research with ducks and turkeys, which Jack finds an interesting expansion, as these sectors also require nutritional expertise.

In 2007, Jack became the poultry farm manager. "Many people don’t realize that Schothorst is not only a research company but also a fully operational livestock farm. We have to comply with all the regulations that apply to the sector in the Netherlands. I’m responsible for farm management, data recording, and things like the sale of eggs and animals. Using a management program, we closely monitor Schothorst’s performance compared to the sector average."

Jack emphasizes the importance of keeping up with industry developments to support research. "We’re ahead of the curve with research on new barn systems, free-range environments, natural light, and welfare aspects such as intact beaks in hens. When the government or society introduces new requirements, we support feed companies and poultry farmers to help them meet those demands without compromising animal health or farm performance."

As farm manager, Jack works closely with poultry researchers. "It can sometimes be a challenge to set up research that’s scientifically sound, meets the client’s needs, and aligns with practical farm conditions. Ultimately, the results need to be practically applicable," he explains.

What Jack enjoys most about his job is being the key person in the barn, acting as a bridge between the caretakers, the lab, the administration, and the research department. "Every project is a team effort. Everyone feels partly responsible for the final result, and we bring out the best in each other. Our poultry team is really tight-knit and stable: we work well together and look out for one another, both professionally and personally."

Jack has noticed some changes due to Schothorst’s growth and increasing independence. "We have more staff, and the consultants are often out in the field, so I speak with them less. The organization has also become more commercial and efficient." However, the core of SFR remains intact, he says: "There’s still close collaboration between departments, and everyone works together. "

We are truly a close-knit team

Mirjam Scholten completed her vocational training in laboratory technology, but in the 1980s, there were limited job opportunities in the field. As a result, she initially worked as an administrative assistant at a post office. However, her passion for lab work remained, and on September 5, 1989, she started at Schothorst, initially through a temp agency, working two days a week.

“Fortunately, I was able to stay on, and later, I increased my hours to three days a week, which suited me better. Two days felt too little,” says Mirjam. During busy periods, she even worked four or five days a week in the lab.

“The work at Schothorst is incredibly varied, which I really appreciate,” Mirjam explains. She enjoys learning new things and being involved in developing new analysis methods. “We’re not a routine laboratory, so there’s always something new to learn and do. Clients sometimes request specific analyses, and I can use my expertise to help figure out how we approach those challenges.”

In 1994, during the reorganization at Schothorst, many changes took place, including in the lab. “That was when I had the opportunity to learn new skills and started working as an animal technician. I became more involved with handling animals and  collecting samples. It’s really exciting work!” Schothorst also conducts a lot of histological research, studying organs and tissues such as intestinal wall structures. As animal health becomes more important in nutritional research, new analytical techniques are constantly being introduced.

It’s clear that Mirjam enjoys the variety in her work and the opportunity to learn new things. Schothorst has consistently provided her with opportunities to grow throughout her nearly 35-year career.

Many things have changed over the years: “We have more equipment now, which has automated many analyses, making them faster and more efficient,” explains Mirjam. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) was introduced to quickly analyze the composition of feed and raw materials. Still, wet chemical analyses remain essential for precise measurements and to keep NIRS calibration lines up to date, she says. “In the future, we’re likely to replace our atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) equipment, but I was happy to still get the chance to work with it and learn.”

SFR increasingly uses in vitro techniques for digestion research in pigs and poultry, as well as gas production tests for rumen fermentation studies. “This saves a lot of test animals and helps develop predictive digestion models.”

Mirjam learns a lot from working with her colleagues at SFR: “There’s close collaboration between the lab, the farm staff, and the researchers. We frequently discuss the design and execution of the research. There’s a lot of mutual respect for each other’s knowledge, which creates a great working environment for everyone.”

In recent years, Mirjam has taken on more quality control responsibilities: “I oversee the proficiency testing in the lab, ensuring analyses are performed, recorded, and processed on time, and I also conduct internal audits. It’s more office work, but I still stay active in the lab!”

Everyone at SFR has become busier over the years. “This means we no longer play billiards (the table is gone), volleyball, or card games during lunch as much as we used to, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to connect with colleagues, both about work and personal matters. We’re truly a close-knit team,” concludes Mirjam.

From Data to Results

Next year, Rienk van der Scheer will celebrate 35 years at Schothorst Feed Research. “In the late ’80s, after completing my Animal Husbandry studies in Groningen, it was tough to find work,” he explains. That’s why Rienk chose to pursue an additional degree in Agricultural Information Science, and with that, he started on May 1, 1990, as an assistant in trial automation at Schothorst.

“In my early years in Lelystad, we didn’t have a network, so I spent hours underground laying cables. Fortunately, I’m not claustrophobic. I was also responsible for connecting the workstations in the main building and barns to the network,” Rienk recalls. Now, as a trial supervisor and system administrator, Rienk benefits from increasing automation in data collection, which has improved accuracy and efficiency. “Automation allows us to record more data with fewer errors,” he says, adding that researchers now get direct access to trial data. For instance, dairy cows are automatically weighed and scored twice daily, and the intake of feed and water for both poultry and pigs is tracked automatically. When needed, SFR coordinates specific slaughter data with smaller abattoirs to meet research requirements. This extensive data collection has built SFR’s expertise, which they share with the industry through training and courses.

Today, Rienk mainly works with poultry: “We monitor feed intake, of course, but we can also track water intake per pen, which is essential for many trials. For laying hens, egg production and (individual) egg weights are also recorded automatically.”

Much has changed in his field over the decades, but Rienk sees a constant factor: “As a trial supervisor and system administrator, you’re really at the center of it all; I coordinate with researchers, the lab, and animal caretakers to ensure every trial is conducted accurately and that clients get reliable answers to their research questions.” Rienk finds it very important that SFR involves all parties early on in discussions about trial proposals. “That way, we can determine what’s needed to gather all the data, and at the end of the trial, we hand over all the collected and analyzed data to the researchers.”

What Rienk appreciates at SFR is the collaboration with many different people: “It’s truly a team effort, and communication is easy.”

Living in Lelystad, Rienk bikes to work every day. “It’s about a half-hour ride, which is a nice distance,” he says. “It also keeps me in good shape.”

More Collaboration, More Results

Wilfried van Straalen has been a ruminant researcher at Schothorst Feed Research for over thirty years. “I was still working on my PhD in Wageningen when Piet van der Aar invited me to join Schothorst,” he recalls. “The position immediately appealed to me, so I started in Lelystad. As a result, the completion of my dissertation took a bit longer than I had planned.”

In the beginning, Wilfried found it exciting to visit clients: “I would drive around with a map of the Netherlands on my lap, heading to cooperatives or farmers' study clubs all over the country. Initially, as a ‘young rookie,’ I was met with some skepticism, but I quickly built a trusting relationship through my knowledge of nutrition.” He views those visits as extremely valuable: “You get to know the companies and their farming communities, and you build genuine relationships. This gives you a good understanding of the sector and the knowledge needs of the animal feed industry and the farmers.”

Wilfried frequently gave presentations at CLO days, where there was great interest in the DVE/OEB system. In Lelystad, excursions and tours were also organized for various target groups, although this has decreased recently due to busy schedules.

In the early years, there were only two ruminant researchers at SFR; now there are six. At that time, only two trials per year were conducted for dairy cattle, whereas now this has grown to six to eight trials annually. Wilfried notes that Schothorst has experienced significant growth in every aspect and that the organizational structure has evolved. “When I started, the research was structured like a matrix, with animal categories (ruminants, pigs, poultry) in ‘columns’ and disciplines (digestive physiology, animal health) in ‘rows.’ Later, we abandoned this ‘silo mentality’ because there are many interconnections between disciplines, and processes are often similar across different species.”

With the independence of Schothorst as a private limited company, many changes occurred: “We started collaborating with the VVM, which brought the private sector into the fold, and we adopted the VVM training program. For a long time, the private and cooperative animal feed sectors in the Netherlands were strictly separated, but this was not sustainable in the long run. Scale expansion and mergers made it necessary for us to adapt and prepare for the future,” Wilfried explains. SFR became more commercial: “We began attracting more clients from abroad and organizing national and international training sessions and courses. As a research company, we offer research facilities but are increasingly providing services and products, which we now package with maintenance contracts. This creates stable revenue and long-term relationships with customers.” Additionally, SFR collaborates in many public-private partnership projects with other research institutions and companies in the sector. “We gather and generate knowledge, but we are also committed to implementing our expertise in the field,” emphasizes Wilfried.

After years as a ruminants cluster leader, Wilfried now primarily works as a consultant for feed companies and is responsible for implementing SFR knowledge within the feed industry. "I still enjoy staying closely connected to the field, bringing in my own ideas and developing them," he says. "As a consultant, I can work very independently here, while staying in close contact with all my colleagues, as well as our clients and partners both domestically and internationally."