What Schothorst Feed Research does

Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) is an independent Dutch animal nutrition research company founded in 1934 and headquartered in Lelystad, Netherlands. The company develops proprietary nutritional models — including E-dairy, E-beef, SFR SowModel, and SFR SwineModel — that translate feed composition, animal physiology, and performance data into practical ration formulation guidance for compound feed producers and livestock integrators. Underlying technology combines a longitudinal proprietary nutrient-value database accumulated over decades with factorial nutrient-requirement modeling and, more recently, third-party computer-vision integrations (Sound Talks, Touchless Animal Metrics) for animal behavior monitoring.

SFR monetizes through three primary commercial channels. First, the Advanced Feed Program (AFP) subscription provides zootechnical support, nutritional data, and model access to large feed manufacturers worldwide on an annual basis (€1,470-€1,785 per subscription year for zootechnical support). Second, the company delivers contract research on a bespoke basis to feed producers seeking experimental validation. Third, SFR runs paid professional courses for feed industry practitioners (€2,500-€4,300 per course). The 2025 partnership with A-Systems extends the Ruminix formulation software as a software-embedded distribution channel, embedding SFR models into the daily workflow of feed nutritionists globally.

With 85 employees and nearly 90 years of continuous operation, SFR serves a global base of compound feed producers, with recent geographic expansion into Switzerland via a partnership with Melior. The company actively participates in Dutch and European public-private research consortia (Pecking the Future, Gut2Go) and has launched an SSO client portal, a corporate podcast, and an internal innovation budget program in 2024-2025 to support ongoing model development and client engagement.

Name

Schothorst Feed Research

Legal name

Schothorst Feed Research B.V.

Website

https://schothorst.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Schothorst Feed Research is an independent Dutch animal nutrition research company founded in 1934, developing proprietary nutritional models (E-dairy, E-beef, SowModel, SwineModel) and delivering subscription-based research, contract research, and training to global compound feed producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Nutrition Research

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performance & Health Outcome Consulting (growth, FCR, milk yield, gut health) (AFADAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Feed Trial Design & Validation (on-farm trials, benchmarking, documentation) (AFADAMAL), Specialty Diet Formulation (starter/finisher, transition diets, heat-stress, high-forage, low-starch) (AFADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Animal nutrition research
• Feed formulation services
• Ruminant nutrition modeling
• Swine nutrition consulting
• Feed evaluation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lelystad

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advanced Feed Package (AFP): Subscription-based service package for large feed producers worldwide, including raw material evaluation, nutrient value determination, database access, and consultancy services delivered through maintenance contracts.
2. FeedInsights: Portfolio of services for companies that are not feed producers, offered through subscription or consultancy hour packages.
3. Educational Services: Training courses, webinars, seminars, and educational programs for nutritionists and feed industry professionals. Courses are priced per participant or through consultancy hours for AFP/FI members.
4. Contract Research: Custom research projects conducted in SFR's pilot to commercial-scale facilities, billed per project or through consultancy arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schothorst Feed Research is an independent animal nutrition research institute that develops nutritional knowledge for poultry, pigs, and cattle and implements it with feed producers worldwide. It sells subscription-based consultancy packages (Advanced Feed Package, FeedInsights), custom contract research executed in pilot and commercial research facilities, and educational programs covering animal nutrition topics. Its offering is underpinned by proprietary mathematical models (E-dairy, SowModel, SwineModel©), a self-maintained nutrient matrix, and on-site research facilities with poultry, swine, and ruminant trials.

Product overview

Schothorst Feed Research offers a comprehensive portfolio of feed optimization services and proprietary mathematical models for the animal nutrition industry. The core offerings include the Advanced Feed Package (AFP) for large feed producers and FeedInsights for non-feed-producing companies, complemented by Contract Research services. Key proprietary tools include the E-dairy model and E-beef version for ruminant rationing, the SFR SwineModel© and SFR SowModel for swine nutrition simulation, all based on factorial modeling approaches. The company also provides Educational Services and participates in Public-Private Partnerships for collective thematic research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Advanced Feed Package (AFP): Service package for large compound feed producers worldwide.
• FeedInsights
• Contract Research
• SFR SowModel
• SFR SwineModel©
• E-dairy model

Products and services

• Advanced Feed Package (AFP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Fifty cows achieving 100,000 kg milk production milestone demonstrates long-term herd management and nutritional expertise

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Melior (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025Swiss company using SFR research as basis for DairyXpert nutritional advice concept launched for Swiss dairy farmers.
• A-Systems (Ruminix)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 February 2025Software partnership integrating SFR's E-dairy and E-beef rationing models into Ruminix software for worldwide distribution to feed manufacturers.
• Vilomix B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in PPP Pecking the Future, focusing on circular feed ingredients and broiler production evaluation.
• Utrecht UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner in PPP Pecking the Future for European broiler production research.
• Wageningen University & ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Key academic partner in multiple PPPs including Pecking the Future and Gut2Go, contributing research expertise.
• IRTA Institute of Agrifood Research and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research technology partner in PPP Pecking the Future focusing on broiler production sustainability.
• DSM FirmenichminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Nutritional science partner contributing to circular feed ingredients research in Pecking the Future.
• HipraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Animal health partner in PPP Pecking the Future focusing on broiler health and welfare.
• Aeres University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Educational partner contributing to knowledge transfer in broiler production research.
• Sound TalkscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Technology partner providing sound monitoring for objective assessment of broiler behavior and welfare using AI.
• DuynieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Feed ingredients partner contributing circular feed ingredient expertise to Pecking the Future.
• APC (APC Europe)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Animal protein partner contributing to circular feed research for broiler production.
• AgravisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Agricultural merchant partner in Germany participating in Pecking the Future research.
• MixScienceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Animal nutrition partner contributing to broiler feed research in Pecking the Future.
• Poultry Expertise CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Industry expertise center contributing to broiler production research and knowledge sharing.
• CorenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Spanish poultry producer contributing practical expertise to Pecking the Future research.
• InnovaBioticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Innovation partner contributing to antibiotic reduction research in broiler production.
• NovonesisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Biosolutions partner contributing to sustainable broiler production research.
• Gebrs. Fuite B.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Dutch feed ingredients distributor participating in Pecking the Future research.
• ABZ DiervoedingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Dutch feed company partner in Gut2Go PPP focusing on early-life strategies for piglets.
• AIA – Agricola Italiana Alimentare SpaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Italian agriculture company partner in Gut2Go for piglet development research.
• Best Star Meat PorkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Pork producer partner contributing to Gut2Go early-life piglet strategy research.
• Darling Ingredients InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Rendering partner contributing circular ingredient expertise to Gut2Go research.
• DSMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Nutritional science partner in Gut2Go for early-life piglet nutrition research.
• Felleskjøpet Fôrutvikling ASminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Norwegian feed development company partner in Gut2Go.
• Huvepharma N.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Animal health partner contributing to pig health research in Gut2Go.
• Lucta S.A.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Feed additives partner contributing flavor and ingredient expertise to Gut2Go.
• Olmix S.A.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Mineral and clay-based product partner contributing to piglet gut health research.
• Schippers Europe B.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Hygiene and pig equipment partner contributing to Gut2Go hygiene strategy research.
• Topigs Norsvin Research Center B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Pig genetics partner providing genetic expertise for early-life piglet strategy research.
• Touchless Animal MetricscoreTechnology or Integration · 2 September 2024AI technology partner providing camera networks and AI for pig behavior monitoring in Gut2Go.
• Unibio A/SminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Methane protein partner contributing innovative protein sources to Gut2Go research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• INRAE: France's national research institute for agriculture, food and environment, with significant animal nutrition research output and commercial partnerships with feed producers. Comparable to SFR in combining independent fundamental research, applied feed trials, and industry-facing consultancy services in livestock nutrition.
• ILVO (Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food): Belgian public research institute delivering applied animal nutrition and feed research to livestock producers and the feed industry. Like SFR, ILVO operates independent nutritional research with experimental facilities and consultancy services for feed companies across species, making it a structurally analogous European peer.
• Wageningen University & Research (Livestock Research): The Netherlands' leading applied livestock and feed research organisation, co-located on the Wageningen campus where SFR maintains a second office. It conducts independent nutritional research across ruminants, pigs, and poultry and frequently partners with SFR on PPPs, making it the closest functional peer in scope, geography, and customer overlap.

Emerging players

• Hamlet Protein: Danish specialty protein producer for young animal nutrition with proprietary research on early-life piglet and calf feed concepts. Adjacent to SFR on the specialty-nutrition/research-services axis and serves similar feed-producer customers, but with a narrower product focus.
• Adisseo: Global feed additive producer (methionine, enzymes, specialty nutrition) with significant applied research and a customer base that overlaps SFR's feed-manufacturer clients. Comparable through its research-driven selling motion and species-specific nutritional solutions, but narrower in scope than SFR's generalist feed-formulation consulting.

Others

• A-Systems: French feed formulation software vendor whose Ruminix platform distributes SFR's E-dairy and E-beef rationing models to feed manufacturers globally. Not a competitor but a complementary ecosystem partner that allows SFR's IP to reach end customers through feed-mill software rather than direct sales.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Agrifirm Group: Large Dutch cooperative feed producer with its own internal R&D and nutritional formulation capabilities for cattle, pig, and poultry producers. Overlaps with SFR on feed formulation science but from a feed-manufacturer perspective rather than an independent-research institute perspective.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: Global feed manufacturer and premix supplier with large in-house animal nutrition research capability serving compound feed producers. Overlaps with SFR's customer base and contributes to SFR-led PPPs while also offering competing formulation-support and advisory services to feed mills.
• Trouw Nutrition (Nutreco): Global animal nutrition division of Nutreco operating feed mills and conducting substantial proprietary nutritional research. Comparable because it competes for the same feed-producer consulting and formulation-support wallet as SFR, while also participating as a PPP partner in Gut2Go and other SFR-led consortia.

Regional players

• SEGES Innovation: Danish agricultural knowledge and innovation centre serving Danish livestock producers and feed companies with applied research, data, and advisory services. Structurally very close to SFR (industry-funded applied research with feed-company customers) but operating primarily in Denmark rather than the Netherlands/EU/global scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schothorst-feed-research

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schothorst Feed Research