Enriched Colony System Gains American Humane Association Seal Of Approval.

Big Dutchman's AVECH system, which is an Enriched Colony Housing System, was installed and is in operation at J.S. West, Livingston, California. "It meets the animal welfare needs in a variety of ways by providing more opportunities for natural behavior," said Jill Benson, JS West vice president.

An open house at J.S West was held on June 21st, 2010 to announce to the media and public the installation of the leading enriched colony housing system for layer hens in the United States. The AVECH system earned the American Humane® Seal of Approval. American Humane is the largest and oldest third party certification of farm animal welfare. "We recognize that reasoned and science-based evaluation tells us that enriched colony housing, when implemented properly, is a humane way to raise hens and produce safe eggs for the marketplace," said American Humane Certified vice president, Tim Amlaw, Vice President of American Humane's farm animal welfare program.... more...

Another 2500 sows will move into group gestation pens

All new and all modern - a Montana Hutterite colony is preparing for the arrival of 36 Big Dutchman ESF stations and automatic heat detection units for a brand new hog operation.

More and more large US hog farms are planning to switch from conventional (single animal) gestation crates to group housing. The evidence of good productivity and better management opportunities has not only been provided by scientific research but also by satisfied producers who have learned to manage ESF very successfully... more...

Adaptable - Versatile - Enriched - Colony - Housing - System  

Big Dutchman, Inc. announces the introduction of AVECH, a new system for egg production which allows producers to go from a traditional layer, to a fully enriched system on their timing.

AVECH (Pronounced AVEK) stands for Adaptable Versatile Enriched Colony Housing, and is designed to offer the egg producer an affordable and easy way to start off with an Enrichable system, and then move into a completely Enriched system at a later date. The AVECH is designed to meet and adapt to the complexities of the different markets the producer serves, and the continued regulatory changes facing the egg production business.... more...

PMSI was welcomed into the Big Dutchman family with a visit to the world headquarters in Germany. 

A team from Poultry Management Systems, Inc (PMSI) along with Clovis Rayzel, President of Big Dutchman USA, recently visited the headquarters of the Big Dutchman group in Vechta, Germany. Doug Powell (President of PMSI), with Eric Hansen and Sean Ryan (PMSI engineers) were welcomed by CEO Bernd Meerpohl, who showed the group around the Big Dutchman campus. Part of the visit included meetings chaired by Bernd and attended by Big Dutchman technical teams to start cooperation and integration between Big Dutchman and PMSI product lines... more...

The Critter Barn Showcases Egg Farming to the Public

Mary Rottschafer of Critter Barn in Zeeland Township has set up a small scale battery house on her farm to help educate children and other visitors what this type of farming is really like

Egg producers nationwide have been under the gun for years from environmentalist and activist groups claiming so-called battery cages, in which most laying hens spend their lives, are inhumane, according to Holland Sentinel.

The outcry has gotten so loud, said Mary Rottschafer of Critter Barn in Zeeland Township, that many poultry farmers have simply closed off their facilities to the public.

"It's all kept pretty quiet," she said. "The people that raise the birds that lay eggs for grocery stores and McDonald's, they are not out there tooting their own horns because they have received a whole lot of criticism over the years." ... more...

Big Dutchman pig production technology enjoys an excellent reputation in Canada

This has once again been confirmed by the recent visit of three experts from Ontario to the premises of the world market leader in Calveslage, Germany. The Canadians, two scientists of the University of Guelph in Ridgetown and a representative of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture based in Elora are currently on a tour through Europe to gain more information about the latest approaches in regard to feeding technology and pig nutrition. One stop of the tour was the three-day work visit at Big Dutchman... more...

HOLLAND, Michigan ­ Mark Larson has joined Big Dutchman as International Sales Director.

With over two decades of national and international experience, and fluency in the Spanish language and customs, Mark will prove to be very valuable to both Big Dutchman and our customers. Most recently Mark served as the Vice President of Sales for Platinum Advanced Technologies. Mark¹s new position is Big Dutchman¹s International Sales Director, with an emphasis in Latin America.... more...

On April 23 Big Dutchman welcomed Poultry Management Systems, Inc (PMSI) to the Big Dutchman family with lunch and cake.

Before lunch Clovis Rayzel, President of Big Dutchman, addressed the employees, introducing them to PMSI and explaining to them the synergies between the two companies... more...

Big Dutchman, a leader in poultry and pig production equipment, has acquired a majority interest in Poultry Management Systems, Inc. (PMSI), located in Saranac, Michigan, USA. PMSI holds the majority of the market share in the USA and Canada in computer controls for the egg production industry. PMSI was founded in 1980 by Stephen Herbruck who will remain a shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Doug Powell, its president, will maintain his position. PMSI will continue its operations in Saranac and will continue to operate as a fully independent company... more...