Trade Show Price vs Quote: What Does a Free Farrowing Pen Really Cost?

EN/NL/DE

A trade show price for a free farrowing pen almost always refers to a single pen in a standard configuration. So when comparing a **trade show price and a quote for a free farrowing pen**, there is far more to consider than two figures. Installation, delivery, removal of existing equipment and alterations to your barn are usually not included. A quote reflects the cost of your complete department, based on your dimensions, material choices and everything required to deliver a fully operational farrowing unit. In other words, a trade show price and a project quote are not like for like. A fair comparison is only possible when both figures are calculated using the same unit, either per sow place or per department, and cover the same scope of work.


## Why is the quote higher than the trade show price?

At a trade show such as EuroTier, taking place [from 10 to 13 November 2026 in Hanover](https://www.van-osch-uden.nl/blog/eurotier-2026-wanneer-en-waar-vind-je-de-vrijloopkraamhokken/), you will see a demonstration pen on display. Its price sheet applies to that exact setup: a fixed width, fixed length, one specific material option and no barn around it. It is a reference price, not a project price.

Your barn is never an empty exhibition floor. It has a slurry pit with fixed edges, existing walkways and a department length that determines how many pens will fit. Every one of these factors requires engineering and materials. They only come into play once someone has reviewed your drawing.

The difference between a trade show price and a quote is therefore rarely a markup. Usually, it comes down to a different scope of work. A pig farmer who multiplies the show price per pen by the number of farrowing places and treats that figure as the budget will almost always be disappointed by the first serious quote. The issue is not the quote, it is the calculation.

## What is and is not included in a trade show price?

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A trade show price generally covers the pen itself: the frame, pen partitions, the sow rail or folding sides, and often a feed trough. What is excluded differs by supplier. However, the same items nearly always appear when you compare a show price with a complete quote:

– **Slatted flooring** beneath the sow and piglets, tailored to the pit edges in each barn
– **Piglet creep area** with a cover and connection to the heating system
– **Feeding and drinking equipment** for sow and piglets, including pipework to the pen
– **Installation and delivery**, often priced ex works by overseas suppliers
– **Dismantling and disposal** of existing farrowing pens during a renovation
– **Alterations** to pit edges, walkways or department doors
– **VAT and currency**: prices displayed at German trade shows may be net prices or exclude Dutch VAT

A trade show price may also include a time limited show discount. That discount only represents genuine savings if the rest of the quote is later prepared on the same basis. A discount on the pen tells you nothing about the cost of slatted flooring, installation or alterations added later.

For every price sheet you receive at a stand, ask exactly what is included. Ideally, get it in writing. A figure without a clear scope cannot be compared properly once you are back home.

## How many square metres do you actually get for that price?

This is where comparisons most often go wrong. A lower price per pen is often linked to a smaller pen. Depending on your circumstances, a smaller pen may offer very different long term value than a more spacious option.


Rules vary by country and welfare scheme. According to the [Flemish government’s Varkensloket](https://www.varkensloket.be/nl/normen-voor-vrijloopkraamhokken), European Directive 2008/120/EC does not set a minimum floor area for farrowing pens or free farrowing pens. A free farrowing pen must, however, include piglet protection, such as a sow rail. According to [Nieuwe Oogst (2025)](https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2025/05/15/het-ideale-vrijloopkraamhok-is-er-nog-niet), Germany introduced a legal requirement in 2020 for free farrowing pens by 2036, with a minimum area of 6,5 square metres. The European Food Safety Authority, according to [Varkensloket/ILVO](https://www.varkensloket.be/nl/huisvesting/vrijloopkraamhokken/nestbouwgedrag), recommends at least 7,8 square metres, including the piglet creep area. From 2035, farms participating in the Beter Leven welfare scheme must provide a minimum of 7,5 square metres (Nieuwe Oogst, 2024).

In the Netherlands, the agreement, ‘Steps Towards Animal Worthy Livestock Farming’, states that free farrowing pens will be required in new builds from 2030, alongside a weaning age of 28 days. This is reported by [Nieuwe Oogst (2025)](https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2025/07/08/convenant-dierwaardige-veehouderij-basis-onder-haalbare-maatregelen). A longer lactation period means that sows and piglets spend more time in the pen. That also matters when choosing the right pen size.

What does this mean for your price comparison? A demonstration pen at a German trade show is likely designed around the German 6,5 square metre standard. A quote for your barn may be based on a larger footprint because you follow a welfare scheme or want to future proof your investment. The quote may look more expensive, while the price per square metre is much the same.

There is a second factor too. A wider pen means fewer pens per department. One supplier may offer a lower price per pen, while the cost per department or sow place is higher, or vice versa. Always calculate the figures at department level. That is the only way to see what the investment means for your operation.

## Trade show price and quote for a free farrowing pen: how do you compare them fairly?

Only compare the two figures once you know what each one covers. Here is how a trade show price and a project quote typically differ:

As the comparison shows, a trade show price still leaves many questions unanswered. If you want to make an initial comparison, add estimated costs for the missing items yourself, or ask the supplier to do this for you. Then convert both figures to a price per sow place, using the same floor area per pen.

Also consider the materials. A trade show price for galvanised steel cannot be compared directly with a quote for stainless steel. The reverse is true as well. Service life and maintenance requirements differ by material. Both affect the lifetime cost of a free farrowing pen. For more information, read [why stainless steel is increasingly becoming the standard for free farrowing pens](https://www.van-osch-uden.nl/blog/vrijloopkraamhokken-waarom-rvs-steeds-vaker-de-norm-is/).

Finally, consider what happens if something is not right after installation. A quote that states how quickly faults will be handled and how replacement parts will be supplied is worth more than a lower figure without those commitments. You will never find that information on a trade show price sheet.

## When is a trade show price useful, and when do you need a quote?

A trade show price is useful for initial research. You can see different systems in operation, get a feel for price levels and decide which setup comes closest to what you need. If you are still choosing between systems, first read about [the key differences between a conventional farrowing crate and a free farrowing pen](https://www.van-osch-uden.nl/blog/traditioneel-kraamhok-of-vrijloopkraamhok-6-belangrijke-verschillen/).


Once a financial decision depends on the figure, you need a formal quote. This applies to discussions with your bank, planning permission applications or grant applications. For the Sustainable Livestock Farming grant, pig farmers must, according to [RVO](https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/investeringen-verduurzaming-veehouderijlocaties-piekbelasting), invest in welfare measures or source based technology, alongside end of pipe technology and fire safety. Anyone who needs to support such an investment will generally need a detailed, barn specific price, not a trade show indication. Check with your adviser whether and how a scheme applies to your farm.

If you are attending the show, take these questions to every stand. They will help you go home with useful information rather than just a number:

1. What floor area per pen does this price cover, and how much of it is the piglet creep area?
2. Which items are included: slatted flooring, feed trough, drinking equipment and creep cover?
3. Are installation, delivery and VAT included?
4. Which standard or welfare scheme was this pen designed to meet?
5. Can you calculate the price for my department dimensions if I provide my drawing?

Bring a dimensioned barn layout, or keep a photo of it on your phone. A specialist who can immediately translate a trade show price into a price for your department is showing that they are taking your project seriously.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a trade show discount on a free farrowing pen genuinely worthwhile?
**A trade show discount** is only worthwhile if the rest of the project is worked out on the same terms. Ask for confirmation that the discount will still apply when the final quote is prepared after the barn visit. Otherwise, the saving often disappears into costs that are added later.

### Why does the price per sow place vary so much between quotes?
**The price per sow place** depends on pen size, materials, slatted flooring and the extent of alterations needed in your barn. Two quotes with different floor areas per pen or different numbers of pens per department are not directly comparable. Ask both suppliers to use the same starting points.

### Can you use a trade show price for a finance application?
**For finance applications**, a trade show price is usually too broad because it excludes installation, connections and barn alterations. A bank or adviser will generally want to see a detailed quote based on your barn. Use the trade show price only as an initial guide for your own planning.

### Can you request a quote based on a trade show demonstration?
**A trade show demonstration** is an excellent starting point for a quote, especially once you have seen the system in operation. The supplier will still need your barn dimensions, department layout and preferences for materials and pen size. The more complete the information you provide, the less difference there will be between the quote and the final invoice.

### How long is a livestock housing quote valid for?
**The validity period** varies by supplier and is often linked to price movements in steel and stainless steel. Check whether the quote includes a clause for material prices between signing and delivery. Where planning and construction take a long time, that clause can matter more than a difference in the quoted price.

## How do you move from a trade show price to an accurate quote?

Use the trade show to see systems in action and ask the right questions. Only make an investment decision based on a quote calculated for your barn dimensions, pen area and department layout. When comparing a **trade show price and a quote for a free farrowing pen**, the comparison is only fair if both figures cover the same work, pen size and assumptions. At EuroTier 2026, you will find Van Osch in hall 14/15, stand 15J26. Bring your barn layout so you can discuss your situation and requirements in detail. With in house engineering and production in Uden, Van Osch develops every project as a bespoke solution, guided by the Five O’s: solution focused, supportive, open, organised and genuine. Bring your drawing to the stand or [request advice on a bespoke free farrowing pen](https://www.van-osch-uden.nl/maatwerk/) for your own farrowing barn.

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