As the sole mainland UK supplier of Big Dutchman pig and poultry equipment, the Big Dutchman story is very much a Newquip story.
Big Dutchman started life in the US with the introduction of the world‘s first automatic chain feeding system in 1938. Thanks to its robust and simple principle, the chain feeding system marked a new era for the poultry industry. The basic concept – feed hopper, drive unit, corner, trough and the feed chain – has remained unchanged.
The Automatic Poultry Feeder Co. risked expansion to Europe in 1958 when poultry farmer, Josef Meerpohl, from Calveslage in Germany, became a sales agent for the product. He then sold his business to Big Dutchman.
The company launched the first liquid feeding system for pigs in 1968, followed by the introduction of manure belt ventilation for cage systems 15 years later, as well as the first Natura aviary system for laying hens. After a management buyout, Josef Meerpohl became the owner of Big Dutchman, with Calveslage the international head office.
Big Dutchman has worked tirelessly to improve and adapt over the years to accommodate today’s requirements for modern poultry production. In 2010, the revolutionary farm management system, BigFarmNet, was launched. Having identified the importance of digitalisation five years earlier, this unique management system was a real turning point for farms looking to maximise profits.
Today, the company consists of 200 agencies in 80 countries, eight regional head offices, more than two dozen further offices and 3,260 employees. The turnover crossed the threshold of EUR 1 billion for the first time in 2022.
Newquip has supplied Big Dutchman pig and poultry products here in the UK since January 2000. We are looking forward to celebrating our 25-year partnership early next year, as well as seeing what the future has in store for our sector going forward.