Research and development
Continuously increasing knowledge, to improve your results
Research farms
Our Global Research Farms are located where there is a centre of knowledge and a technological infrastructure for a specific group of animals. For example, the International Swine Nutrition Centre is located in the Netherlands (thanks to the exceptional reputation of the Netherlands in pig farming), whilst our International Aqua Research Centre is based in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
On our research farms, we perform a variety of feed tests using a wide range of variables. This enables us to accurately determine the exact type of feed and the precise circumstances that will ensure strong, healthy animals and efficient feed conversion.
Perfecting nutrition for animals
We examine and question everything through research, research, and more research! Our Global Research Farms are located where there is a centre of knowledge and a technological infrastructure for a specific group of animals.
Cattle R&D farms
For cattle we work closely with highly professional commercial farms in The Netherlands (Dairy) and Brazil (Beef) where additional R&D equipment and processes are implemented for reliable and reproducible results. Now we also add the Anseong Research Farm in Korea to our R&D capabilities. On the dairy and beef research farms we study how nutrition, genetics, management, and digital technologies can be optimized together to produce milk and meat most efficiently, while improving animal welfare, farm profitability, and environmental sustainability.
Aquaculture Research and Development Center in Vietnam
Our dedicated Aquatic R&D Centre in Vietnam provides testing for a large range of aquaculture species. The indoor facilities support extensive feed development trials under controlled conditions. The results are tested and proven in our specially designed outdoor facilities that closely mirror those of an aquaculture farm.
The R&D Centre also functions as a technology lab where customers take part in training programmes and demonstrations to help develop their farming and management practices.
Practical research into pig nutrition
Elsenpas is De Heus’ most modern research centre for pig nutrition. It brings together all the knowledge that De Heus has acquired worldwide in cooperation with its pig farming customers and knowledge institutes. The research centre functions as a conventional, modern farm with sows, piglets and fatteners. Imitating the real world under controlled conditions is a prerequisite for thorough research. The set-up of the research farm enables De Heus to conduct unique nutritional research into all animal groups and across the various animal groups for which long-term effects can also be determined.
Poultry R&D centres
As de Heus has a strong position worldwide in feeding poultry, De Heus is committed to invest a lot in poultry research. With the aim to help farmers answering their local challenges and within that work on a sustainable increase of farmer’s technical results and the increase of animal welfare.
De Heus operates 4 Poultry R&D centres. All strategically chosen to meet local needs. De Heus focuses in their Poultry Research centres mainly on the practical impact for the farmers, so we organize research trails to gain applicable knowledge. All based on practical issues faced by our customers.
Two of the De Heus R&D centers are located in The Netherlands (one specific for Broiler Research and one for Layer and Breeder Research), Poland (for Broiler and Turkey Research) and in Vinh Long, Vietnam (for Layer- and Broiler Research).
