Few succeed in traveling continuously at the top for decades. Straight Koopman is one of these exceptions. When he started pigeon racing, he set very clear goals. He wanted to be an exceptional breeder, to be the best of all.

During his early years in Nieuw Amsterdam, his parents supported him at all times in order to develop into the man he is today. World traveler, specialist, contact person for many, but above all an extremely passionate and successful pigeon lover. Of course, the setting is different now than it was then. In 1997 he moved to Ermerveen, the size of the pigeon population and the loft increased, and a team of employees was put together. All logical steps in developing what was first a talent and is now today's professional pigeon.

An icon of pigeon racing

1^st National S4 Cahors 1.371 p. 2019
1^st National S4 Lorris 6.528 p. 2019
1^st National S4 Dax 649 p. 2019
3^rd DUTCH Olympiad Pigeon – Cat. E Marathon POZNAN 2019
2^nd Nominated National Champion Long Distance NPO 2018
2^nd National Ace Pigeon Marathon NPO 2018
2^nd Best Ace Pigeon Marathon WHZB/TBOTB 2018
4^th Best Ace Pigeon Long Distance WHZB/TBOTB 2018
1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^i.e., 5^th Nat. S4 Bourges 5,877 p. 2018
1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th Nat. S4 Chateauroux 3,647 p. 2018
1^st Nat. S3 + 4 Perigueux 10.405 p. 2018
1^st Nat. S4 Bourges 5.865 p. 2018
1^st NPO Chateaudun 918 p. 2018
10^th National Champion Long Distance NPO 2017
2^nd National Champion Marathon Un-nominated NPO 2017
4^th National Champion Marathon NPO 2017
1^st NPO Limoges 801 p. Dep. 10 N.O Netherlands 2017
2^nd, 4^th & 11^th Ace Pigeon Heavy Long Distance WHZB/TBOTB 2017
1^st Un-Nominated National Champion Marathon NPO 2016
2^nd Dutch Olympiad Pigeon Cat. B – Middle Distance Budapest 2015
7^th National Ace Pigeon Allround Hens WHZB/TBOTB 2016

One of the things that haven't changed is Gerard's ability to distinguish between major and minor matters. Like a chess player, he first pays attention to the core of the game, where does the difference arise, where is the action taken that leads to victory, what is really important.
Louis Van Loon (Poppel – BE) led Gerard to the insight that nothing can be forced in pigeon racing and that you have to start with the pigeon itself. Another top fancier of the time, Jules Rijckaert (St. Amandsberg – BE) showed him the importance of observing what a pigeon needs. Rijckaert had repeatedly noticed that pigeons pick up small snails in order - this was his conclusion - to meet the need for animal protein. So more than just grains and seeds. The impetus for the final component of the now well-known mixture of peanuts, cheese and sheep fat was given when a Taiwanese breeder was visiting Nieuw Amsterdam. Gerard told the man that the "Beatrix-Doffer" no longer fertilized. He may have had a solution to the problem. Sheep fat should be very suitable for this. The pet shop that Gerard's brother Jaap ran was already selling sheep fat for dogs with coat problems. The administration of sheep fat gave them a particularly beautiful coat. So the idea was born to add sheep fat to the cheese and peanut mixture. The current mix consists of 60% peanuts, 30% cheese and 10% sheep fat.

Premium Koopman All-in-One Goldcorn Koopman

For breeders, which the preparation of the mixture is too complicated or too time-consuming, BEYERS developed the Goldcorn Koopman in collaboration starring Gerard Koopman, inflicted its first Community Development: the Premium Koopman All-in-One mixture that main course and dessert is one.

Futterplan - Reisesystem Gerard Koopman & Team

Classic widowhood – Widower or female on widowhood

The Premium Koopman Al-in-one mixture to pass feed all year round with the same base mix, due to the idea of ​​Gerard, all pigeons every day, developed. Below describes Gerard freely and openly as he feeds his pigeons. As required, the Koopman All-in-one mixture with barley, paddy rice or cleaning mixture is added. The pigeons every day is plenty of food available.

During the preparation for short-haul flights, the pigeons have to eat everything before they can get new food. Before flights >300 km the pigeons are fed twice a day. The food that is left over after a meal is given either to the pigeon's partners or to the summer youngsters. If the pigeons are used for a flight with more than one night's stay in the basket, the feed is removed around 10 a.m. on the day of use. If you sit longer in the basket, the feed will stay longer.
Both the old and the young pigeons get after each workout a small amount of peanut cheese sheep fat mixture, about 1 teaspoon per pigeon per day. After some time the pigeons know that. So you have an extra stimulus, quickly to step in so that the training rhythm of the other pigeons does not get messed up.

The sheep fat must be stored in the freezer as it does not contain any preservatives. Additional peanuts are not given. The all-in-one mix and the peanut-cheese-sheep fat mix contain enough peanuts. The widowers who stay at home to receive their partner receive a mixture of 50% all-in-one and 50% barley. During the moulting care must be taken that the pigeons do not get too fat. In winter, carrots are also mixed with the feed. Pigeons do not like to eat them, but only when the carrots have been eaten is new food given. During breeding, the breeding pigeons are given the peanut-cheese-sheep fat mixture every three days.

You can find more information on the BEYERS website…(click)