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Export success marks 25 years of the Transition Feeder

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”

Jamie Baker - Managing Director
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”

Jamie Baker - Managing Director

Functionality

The Transition Feeder (TF) is designed to support the piglets during the critical post-weaning phase, easing the transition from the sow’s milk to solid feed whilst ensuring gastrointestinal health is not compromised. The TF delivers a fresh meal that can be mixed with either hot or cold water. It has the capacity to feed up to 50 weaned piglets at one time to ensure that all piglets receive their required uptake of nutrients to promote digestion and growth.

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QE Staff Compete in Mud Run for Charity

14 October 2022

Quality Equipment has always prided itself on being a down-to-earth company. This was certainly the case for seven members of staff who got their hands – and everything else – dirty while taking part in the Only The Brave mud obstacle run. The event took place at Elveden Estates, near Thetford on Sunday 2nd April.

The aim was to raise £500 for the company’s favoured charity, the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. Pledges at over £1,000 have more than doubled this sum. A team of seven took part, plus two non-QE staff, with some tackling the five-mile and others braving the ten-mile course with over 40 obstacles!

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Store expansion meets growth in plastic panel sales

14 October 2022

Due to increased demand for Paneltim by pig farmers, Quality Equipment has extended its storage area by 220m² (2368 sq ft) at its Woolpit, Suffolk, base.

This will enable the company to stock an extra 5,000m² (53,819 sq ft) of the plastic panel, widely used in piggeries, particularly for pen division and gates. It offers substantial benefits in terms of strength and hygiene over many traditional materials.

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Birds eye view helps piggery planning

14 October 2022

Suffolk-based company Quality Equipment is using aerial technology to help it carry out site surveys. A drone takes still images and videos of plots for pig new housing and other farm building projects.

The bird’s eye views will help the company identify the best layout, access points, and any potential problems on sites for new houses or extensions, before submitting plans to the authorities in the normal way.

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