Written by: Martin Looker of BHR Communications
Suffolk-based buildings and equipment manufacturer, G E Baker (UK) Ltd – which trades under the name of Quality Equipment – has chalked up a huge success in exporting specialised pig feeders to Japan.
Since 2011, over 2,500 Transition Feeders have been purchased by Global Pig Farms, a form of integrated and influential co-op, based in Gunma, north-west of Tokyo. These sales are expected to grow, according to QE’s managing director, Jamie Baker, who has just returned from a visit to Japan with Michael Mattmuller, export director – the first since the Covid pandemic.
After several years of research and development work at their Woolpit base, QE launched the Transition Feeder in 1999 to help piglets make a smooth transition from sow’s milk to solid feed over the stressful weaning period. This was becoming necessary following increasingly large numbers of piglets born per litter due to genetic selection for productivity.
“’Made in England’ is still an appreciated label for the feeders supplied by G E Baker, and we see a much larger potential for Japan’s 3,000 breeding farms, accounting for over 900,000 sows”
The feeders proved to be so successful that, since then, they have been exported to over 27 different countries. Perhaps this is not surprising since, not only does the feeder reduce the notorious checks in growth over this period, it also lowers mortality, helping the smaller pigs to survive and catch up.
“Farmers like the Transition Feeder for several reasons – it is simple to use, easy to set up and clean, is reliable and keeps working for a long time.
The feeder can also provide for early-weaning of piglets – avoiding ‘blocking’ a farrowing pen with a foster sow”
“The feeder is not a product like any other. It offers special benefits and therefore requires more training and support”
Used to its maximum potential, on a two-weekly cycle with 45 pigs per feeder, one machine can feed almost 1,200 pigs a year.
Global Pig Farms is QE’s exclusive partner in Japan and Jamie Baker and Michael Mattmuller’s trip was to meet the new team, post-pandemic, and learn about the local challenges facing Japanese pig farmers.
Global Pig Farms produces a high-quality and exclusive brand of pork “Waton Mochibuta”, which is claimed to have a superior taste and texture as a result of the selection of breeding stock, feed and environment provided by the company. The meat contains high quantities of glutamic acid, which produces umami flavour and vitamin E which prevents oxidation of fat.
Quality Equipment, or QE, was founded by Glynn Baker in 1965. Based in Woolpit, the small Suffolk village, QE is a third-generation family business, and its family nature is an integral part of its culture and a major attraction for many customers.
At Quality Equipment we pride ourselves on our excellent bespoke designs and customer service. Below are a few of our recently designed and tested products, which have been crucial pieces of equipment for reducing manual labour on farm and improving efficiency and accuracy.
The Mini Transition Feeder (MTF) is an innovative solution designed to support early gastrointestinal tract development of piglets, consequently producing healthy and uniform litters with greater vitality and high weaning weights.