According to Verba, the feed bowl takes on a central function when the pig divides its areas of function. This knowledge has collected Verba by keeping production, service and maintenance under its own management.
And they are keen to share this knowledge with livestock farmers and research organisations.
Bert Verbakel has been among the feed troughs all his life. In addition to setting up his own pig business in Sint Oedenrode, Bert started in 1971 making steel and eternit food trays under the brand name Verba. Meanwhile, the pig farm has stopped with 1,500 meat pigs, but the products of Verba can be found all over the world.
From steel to plastic
“In 1978, with sustainability in mind, we began manufacturing plastic mixing troughs. This made us the first on the market. But the market wasn’t really ready for it yet.”
Bert Verbakel looks back. When the manure legislation was drawn up in the early 1980s, our plastic frying bins became more popular. Not so much because of the material, but because of the reduced spilling. With frying bins the manure production per pig went back from 2 m3 to 1 m3 per year. At that time we grew heavily and we also started to focus on exports.
These days, nothing has really changed when it comes to feed troughs. “The sale of feed troughs is still a question of price, particularly in Europe. First, the entire barn is built and fitted out, and the feed troughs are installed last. That doesn’t really do justice to
“The usefulness of the feeding troughs,” he states firmly.
Further advice
Bert states that the role of the feed bowl is underestimated...The feeding troughs take a central role in the classification of the function areas by pigs. The feeding area is fixed. On open days I see layouts passing, where I can already say in advance that it will not be successful. For example, the feeding tray is not tailored to the size of the cage, or the dense floor is too far from the feed tray. It is all related to each other Verbakel experienced.
According to Bert, the pen size, the type of flooring and the breed of pig determine the type of feeding trough that should be installed. “But we or our dealers are generally not asked for that advice, even though we do have that knowledge. Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily mean a feeding trough has to be more expensive, as we offer different price ranges across the various models. As a farmer, you simply make things a lot easier for yourself by installing the right feeding trough correctly from the outset. Then you’ll simply have far fewer problems with manure management.”
In-house service
The knowledge about the role of the food bowl in the stable has gathered Verbakel in recent years by performing the service and maintenance of their customers themselves. We have to continue to deliver quality, because a food bowl has to last for decades. By doing the service and maintenance all over Europe, we know how our products work in the barn and we have learned a lot about the role of the food bowl in the establishment.
The sale deliberately gave Verbakel out of hands to dealers, which are mainly Stalin Adjusters. Find the boxes through the trade hardly sales, because it does not have the highest priority among farmers. They prefer to buy the whole establishment from one dealer, so it makes sense for us to put away the feed troughs via those channels, Bert explains.
Do not outsource production
Verba's production site has been in the same place since 1978 in Saint-Oedenrode, remarkable for a company operating in an industry that competes mainly at cost. However, Bert Verbakel is definitely about outsourcing production abroad.
"You achieve this through high efficiency, not through cheaper labour. By automating the production process, you can also compete on cost."
But also in terms of service, production abroad is not an option according to Verbakel. In our industry, production in stock is not an option, so the customer has to deal with delivery times. They are often not waiting for that. Besides, transport to Europe is not cheap either, so we choose to keep production in our area of work.
Not only the production, but also the research prefers to keep Verba in the region. For many years now, the company has maintained warm contacts with VIC Sterksel. Among other things, the piglets nests in the Pro Dromi principle are manufactured by Verba. We like to contribute to the development of pig farming and vice versa VIC Sterksel also helps us to know name abroad, Bert explains the interaction.
"It involves a great deal of innovation. It’s mainly hardware, where, admittedly, there isn’t much scope for further innovation," Bert admits.
Nevertheless, according to the managing director, there is still plenty of scope for development when it comes to the pigs’ feeding area. “Take RFID technology, for example, which allows you to keep the litters intact whilst still being able to feed them individually,” says Bert enthusiastically. “Sows’ litters are getting bigger and bigger, so the fattening pig units will have to become smaller again. I’m convinced we’ll return to fattening pens holding 12 to 15 pigs, so that litters can stay together. A feeding system that can then feed both boars and gilts from the same litter individually will, however, be essential.”
The experience, however, has taught Verbakel that the innovations are five years ahead of the market. This is a recurring feature of every innovation. Five years after the introduction, the market is only ready. As we are already working on it.
Another remarkable trend that Verbakel has noticed is the return of the so-called undercrops. In the early 1980s, Verbakel already introduced undercrops on the market which, possibly in combination with underfloor heating, created a microclimate for the piglets. In the 70s and 80s, the undercrops and piglets started to enter the market by tens of thousands a month. Until the sloping arrangement of sows became popular. There was no cabin or undercrops, so marketing became less. However, with the current increase in the number of live piglets you see the interest in undercrops. Those piglets need a climate of their own.
Company Profile
Verba is the brand name of products produced by Verbakel. In St.Oedenrode (North Brabant) the company has been established since 1978. Verbakel is only active in pig farming and mainly sells feed containers for pig farming. It is run by Bert Verbakel (68).
By far the most revenue generates Verba with the design, production and delivery of feed trays. Meanwhile, Verba has an assortment consisting of more than 100 different types of feed trays. In addition, the undercrops are also known and the synthetic piglets nests, which are included in the ProDromi principle. The Netherlands is an important marketing area, but 85 percent of turnover is realized abroad. In principle, Verbakel is active in every country that keeps pigs, up to the Far East, Oceania and South Africa. Within Europe, all products are distributed via dealers. Outside Europe, Verba own sales agents. The company has 26 employees in permanent service.
Text: Rob van Ginneken
