Beyond nutrition: helping integrators improve performance across the entire production chain

Hands-on experience with integrators

At Koudijs, supporting integrators is nothing new. In several European markets, we have spent years working alongside integrated livestock businesses, helping them solve technical challenges, improve performance and identify opportunities for growth. One of the people supporting these customers is Daan Somers. After developing extensive experience within the Dutch feed industry, he moved to the UK in 2017 and has since worked closely with integrators throughout the UK and Ireland.

Today, he helps customers tackle both strategic and day-to-day challenges while connecting them with the right specialists across the Koudijs organisation. Over the last decade, Daan has witnessed a significant shift in the market. "Ten years ago, the sector was far less integrated," he says. "Today, more and more companies are organising production throughout the chain. We are seeing the same development happening in Ireland."

This shift has also changed the nature of Daan's work. Earlier in his career, he mainly advised individual pig and poultry farmers. Today, he also works closely with integrators, where the questions are often broader and involve multiple parts of the production chain.

Tailoring support for each integrator

No two integrators are the same. Some are focused on improving technical results, while others are looking for greater operational efficiency or support in responding to changing regulations. According to Daan, the variety of questions reflects the complexity of modern livestock production.

"One customer may want to improve the lean meat percentage at the processing plant, another may struggle with feed pellet quality in the feed mill, while a third is looking for ways to increase the number of piglets per sow on the farm," he continues. "Every integration has its own priorities and challenges."

Improved results through practical collaboration

Technical expertise only creates value when it can be applied in practice. That is why Koudijs combines nutritional knowledge with practical field support. Rather than working from behind a desk, our specialists spend time on farms, in feed mills and throughout the production chain. "We often describe our approach as nutrition with our boots on," says Daan. "Our role is to understand the customer's needs and bring in the right expertise to help them achieve their goals." This practical mindset is supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts covering all specialisms.

Support where it matters most

The challenges integrators face can vary considerably. Recent projects have included:

• Implementing biosecurity protocols across multiple farms.
• Supporting farms in improving reproductive performance.
• Assessing grain quality from new harvests to maintain performance.
• Advising on ingredient alternatives to reduce the impact of changing regulations such as EUDR.
• Investigating technical issues affecting farm or feed mill performance.

For some integrators, this means regular performance reviews and ongoing technical support. For others, it involves solving a specific challenge at a critical moment.

Looking beyond today's results

One of the advantages of working with an external partner is that it offers a fresh perspective. Even highly professional organisations can benefit from new insights and challenges to assumptions.

"Integrators should always remain open to external expertise. One of the biggest pitfalls is thinking you already know everything. By asking critical questions, you often discover opportunities that would otherwise be missed," says Daan.

This focus on long-term improvement drives the way Koudijs works with integrators. Rather than focusing only on today's issue, we help customers identify opportunities that can strengthen performance over the long term.

Practical solutions and specialist advice

For integrators, results depend on many interconnected factors. Improving performance requires practical expertise, industry knowledge and a clear understanding of how the entire production chain operates. As part of an international organisation with extensive experience in feed production, Koudijs combines technical knowledge with practical, hands-on support. We work alongside integrators to solve challenges, improve performance and help them achieve their goals.

As Daan puts it: "When we work with an integrator, we become jointly responsible for the results." This makes Koudijs more than a supplier. We are a partner committed to helping integrators succeed.