Our Performance House Network
As part of our on-going research programme aimed at finding solutions to current and future challenges, and refining our current range, we have partnered with some key customers to develop our “Performance Houses”. These facilities are located on commercial farms, but set up to allow us to measure to scientifically publishable standards across different species and climatic conditions to replicate those of our customers.
Caribbean Broilers Performance House
Opened in 2024 in partnership with Caribbean Broilers in Jamaica, this is the first research and development (R&D) facility for growing broiler chickens in a tropical climate in the Americas.
The house has 48 pens, allowing for up to eight replicates of 6 different feeding regimes. The research focus areas of the facility will be reducing the cost of production, improving bird performance and welfare and reducing environmental emissions.
Turkey Performance House
With poultry research often focussing on broiler research, we partnered with 2Ag Turkeys in 2016 to build a turkey-specific research farm.
Located on a commercial unit with three other houses, the unit has 20 pens, housing 625 stags per pen for the first six weeks of life, thinned to 254 birds for the remaining 15 weeks. To date, we have conducted over 20 trials assessing a range of feed additives, feeding regimes and how to improve the sustainability of turkey production.
Slatted weaner/grower pig facility, Northern Ireland
In operation for the past 8 years, we conduct continuous research in a commercial setting with approximately 4,800 pigs on site from 6-38kg.
Graded on entry and balanced by weight, age and parity, we are responsible for the nutrition in this facility which has been fundamental in the research and development around our EnteriMAX® zinc free piglet range. The scale of the facility allows us to assess changes in diet to scientifically publishable standards, ensuring once the diets are changed, the results are replicable across our wider customer base.
Straw based pig facility, England
This unique performance house allows us to fill in the gaps around nutrition, feeding and production of the progeny of outdoor bred pigs sourced from herds of divergent genetic make-up.
Situated in North Yorkshire, the farm has 44 identical pens across two sheds, with each pen housing up to a maximum of 43 pigs each. The pigs are on the farm for 16 weeks, coming in at 30kg and reared to slaughter weight. We can assess up to four diets at any one time. The research allows us to take a holistic approach to pig nutrition, health and welfare.
1st stage pig unit, Northern Ireland
Opened in 2020, this is a 1st stage pig unit, housing up to 240 piglets.
The facility has 24 pens, allowing us to conduct 6 replicates of 4 treatments for the first 33 days post-weaning. This is a key facility for evaluating and fine-tuning our EnteriMAX® creep range.
In addition to the 1st stage unit, we also have access to the breeding herd and farrowing room, allowing us to have data from birth, right through to 33 days post-weaning.
