Development of management recommendations for small group housing for laying hens under practical conditions in comparison to aviary housing
Development of management recommendations for small group housing for laying hens under practical conditions in comparison to aviary housing
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute
Project participants: M.Sc. Döring, Susanne; Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion; Hilmes, Nadja
Project description:
The aim of the project is to describe the effects of small group housing and various forms of aviary housing for laying hens on animal health and behavior, economic efficiency, hygiene status and environmental inputs under the conditions of agricultural practice and to derive management advice that can be made available to practitioners as decision-making aids. Nationwide, the above-mentioned parameters are to be collected once in the last third of the laying period in around 70 barns with small groups or aviary systems. The data collectors involved from the various project partners will receive sufficient training to ensure that data is collected on all farms using identical methods. The development of control mechanisms and management options for the husbandry systems under investigation should serve to derive nationwide recommendations as decision-making aids for the use and operation of small group housing and aviaries.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) via the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)