Grober Nutrition

Grober Nutrition (Cambridge, Ontario), the leader in young animal nutrition and Förster-Technik (Engen, Germany), the world’s largest manufacturer of automatic calf feeders announce a technical partnership.

left to right
Mike Fortuna (CFO, Grober Nutrition), Thomas Förster (CEO/Managing Director, Förster Technik), Jan Ziemerink (Manager of Automation Services, Grober Nutrition), Markus Förster (CEO/Managing Director, Finance), Markus Kack (Research & Development, Förster Technik), Heather Copland (Marketing & Communications Manager, Grober Nutrition), Jerry Bartelse (CEO/President, Grober Nutrition)
Effective April 1, 2008, Grober Nutrition and Förster-Technik will be working in collaboration to support and promote the use of automatic calf feeders to the Canadian dairy farmer.

Grober’s farming division (Delft Blue Farms) was the first North American farm to utilize the Specialist heavy-duty calf feeder from Förster. Grober and Förster have continued to work together closely over the past 10 years.
While Förster is the world’s largest manufacturer of automatic calf feeders, the North American market place is only recently fully-realizing the value that automation plays at the dairy farm.

Grober will serve as Förster-Technik’s North American anchor for technical expertise. Grober’s 30-plus years’ experience in formulating outstanding milk replacers combined with their expertise in raising over 200,000 calves/year will provide the market with a needed-resource to support and promote the use of automatic calf feeders.

“Certainly, our vast experience using the Förster automatic calf feeders, and designing milk replacer formulas that operate optimally through these machines, has provided us with a unique experience to combine nutrition, expertise in calf  husbandry, and technical advice to the marketplace.” says Jerry Bartelse, President and owner of Grober Nutrition.
Thomas Förster, CEO and Managing Director, agrees. “Grober has a long and proven track record in group housing for calves, a system state-of-the-art in Europe but not yet across North America. Also we are sure that the dairy farmer will be successful with Grober’s milk replacer in our calf feeders to save labor and have faster growing animals. Together with Grober’s practical support in Canada this is a win-win situation for everyone.”

Grober Nutrition will support the leading suppliers of milking equipment (DeLaval, WestfaliaSurge, Lely) who distribute, sell and service the Förster-Technik automatic calf feeders. Grober will also provide support to the dairy nutrition companies for whom they make private label milk replacer. Grober will provide feeding schedules, advice on machine-housing as well as training on machine operation. Grober will also support operation, calibration, and function of machines at the dairy farm level through the equipment companies and Grober’s dairy nutrition customers. Sales, service and installation will remain under the milking equipment company’s responsibility.

With advancements in technology come opportunities. And while the Förster-Technik machines are user-friendly, technical and value-added support must be available.

Jan Ziemerink, Manager of Automation Services, Grober Inc., will be the contact for the Grober/Förster partnership. He can be reached at jziemerink@grober.com  or 519-622-2500 x 315 (office), 519-239-9756 (cell)
For more information pertaining to this News Release, please contact:
Contact: Heather Copland
Marketing & Communications Manager
Grober Nutrition
Tel: 800-265-7863 x 240
Email: hcopland@grober.com

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