Family-sized feeding trough for a sow with piglets

PT0 Family Feeder (KZB)

The VERBA KZB is a family-style feeder for farrowing pens, featuring a specially lowered trough that delivers excellent results, specifically designed for free-range farrowing pens (rearing). The design of the KZB feeder is inspired by nature, where piglets begin to eat solid feed from the age of fourteen days. Quite simply because, as in nature, the piglet imitates its mother. With the KZB, we have observed that the first piglets start eating alongside the sow and consuming solid feed as early as 4 to 5 days old.

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Key strengths

  • 1 A feeding trough where both the sow and the piglets eat
  • Made entirely from 304 stainless steel
  • ½” stainless steel water connector for sows, with external thread
  • Highly durable dosing mechanism and trough, made entirely from 304 stainless steel
  • After just a few days, the piglets start feeding with the sow. Saliva production increases.
  • Virtually no drop in production after weaning
  • Significantly lower use of the prestarter
  • Piglets gain weight on average one week earlier
  • By the end of the weaning period, the piglets are already fully accustomed to solid food
  • Both the sow and the piglets can use the dosing system
  • A unique and highly popular feeding trough for breeding and farrowing pens
  • Excellent value for money
  • Jarno Brummelhuis, a Topigs-affiliated farmer, in *Boerderij* magazine: “We don’t see any weight loss after weaning, and post-weaning diarrhoea is not an issue on our farm. The Verba family feeder plays a part in this. After weaning, the piglets remain in the same pen and know how to find their way to the feeder.”
  • Niek Lansink, a sow farmer, in *Boerderij* magazine: “Weaning the piglets requires little work and they continue to grow without any problems. This is partly down to the family feeders Verba, which help the animals learn to eat alongside their mothers.”
All technical specifications and models →

Guarantee

3 years’ warranty against material and manufacturing defects; teats are covered by a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. All teats are suitable for use with water, but are not suitable for use with additives.

The product in practice →

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Description

Optimise your pig farming with the robust VERBA Family Feeder (KZB)

The VERBA Family Feeder (KZB) is the ideal solution for lactating sows. Made from durable 304 stainless steel and featuring mesh sides, this unique feeder allows both the sow and her piglets to access it easily. Thanks to the feeder’s lowered base, piglets can feed alongside the sow from a very young age.

Benefits of the Family Feeder VERBA (KZB)

  • Stainless steel teat: Thanks to a stainless-steel teat, the sow can teach her piglets to eat and drink from a very young age.
  • Early feeding: Piglets often start eating solid food as early as 5 days old, which helps their digestive system and salivary glands to adapt. This helps to minimise the ‘withdrawal symptoms’ associated with weaning at a later stage.
  • Easy to use: Users appreciate its simplicity, its affordable price and its results, particularly its ability to prevent the ‘speendip’.
  • Rapid depreciation: The family food system is a ‘Quick result« … for each farrowing pen, and pays for itself quickly. »
  • Improvements in health: Studies show that the calm environment provided by the sow feeder helps to reduce the number of sows that abandon their litters and the number of sow deaths. As a result, the sow leaves the piggery in better condition and has a higher feed intake.
  • Activewear/fitness wear: Sows eat fresh feed as and when they need it, get up more often and are therefore in better condition.
  • Minimum food portion: The partially enclosed sides prevent spillage. Thanks to the small portions, the bowl is completely emptied and the contents are drunk in their entirety.
  • Compact: It is only 21 cm deep, which saves space in terms of depth.

Less food waste

The VERBA Familie Feeding Trough (KZB) range helps to prevent feed wastage, unlike traditional feeding trays. Measurements show that feed wastage is lower than with conventional sow troughs. Since 2016, 10,000 feeders from the VERBA (KZB) range have already been sold in Europe, and demand continues to rise.

Available models and options

The family feeder is available in all sizes, with standard models measuring 310 mm and 400 mm in width. It is also ideal for large litters of piglets that remain in the pigsty after the sow has been moved. The 400 mm wide VERBA family feeder is the most popular. Additional options include extra water pipes, a transparent viewing window and a piglet drinker on the side.

Client results

  • Weight gain: “After four weeks, the average weight per piglet was 800 to 900 grams higher than that achieved with my conventional system.”
  • Fewer absences: "My piglet mortality rate up to weaning has fallen by 3 per cent since I started using the VERBA Family Feeder (KZB)."
  • Improving dietary intake: “At first, my sows were eating 7 kg a day; now they’re eating 9 kg a day, which means they’re in better condition and producing more milk.”
  • Food conversion: “My feed conversion ratio has fallen from 1.66 to 1.55, with an average weight gain of 1 kg per piglet after 28 days.”

Scientific support

A study conducted by Wageningen University & Research shows that piglets that learn to eat solid feed in the farrowing house grow better, are healthier and display better behaviour. Trouw Nutrition emphasises that it is important for the feed to remain fresh and for piglets to learn to eat properly in the farrowing house in order to avoid any problems after weaning.

Read the article in *Nieuwe Oogst* on piglet health here.

BLK 1-star welfare requirements

The KZB Family Feeder meets the requirements of the ‘Beter Leven 1-star’ label. From 2025, these standards will apply to new builds or renovations, and will become mandatory for all farrowing houses by 2035 at the latest. One of the key requirements is that feeders must be fitted with a low-level trough so that piglets can also feed easily. The KZB Family Feeder, with its low-level feeding trough, meets this requirement. This family-style feed dispenser therefore complies with the strictest welfare standards applicable to farrowing pens.

Conclusion

The VERBA Family Feeder (KZB) offers numerous benefits for both sows and piglets. Backed by proven results and a scientific basis, it is the ideal feeder for optimising the health and growth of your pigs. Invest in the VERBA Family Feeder (KZB) today and discover its benefits for yourself!

Contact

For further information or to place an order, please contact us at the following address: info@verba.nl.

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