In collaboration with the BroilerNet project, the Fokus Tierwohl network has organised an online event focusing on sustainability and the environment, animal welfare and animal health in the broiler chicken sector.
BroilerNet is a European network project in which 13 countries have joined forces to exchange views on challenges in broiler farming and potential practical solutions focusing on sustainability and the environment, animal welfare, and animal health. In most countries, a scientific partner and an industry partner have joined forces for this purpose; in Germany, these are the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI) and the Federal Association of Rural Chicken Producers (BVH).
The aim of the event was to present the results and findings from the first phase of the project and to discuss the newly defined challenges for the second phase. The event began with keynote presentations: Dr Christian Haverkamp from Praxis für Geflügel GbR spoke about common clinical presentations and their treatment and prevention in broiler farming. His presentation focused in particular on avian rhinotracheitis, infectious bronchitis and reovirus.
Arnd von Hugo then presented the MUD MaVeTi project, in which he, together with three other commercial farms, the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture (LWK) and the University of Bonn, tested various options for structuring and enrichment in broiler houses. He reported on the effects that providing raised platforms and the automatic dispensing of enrichment materials had on animal behaviour, animal health and work management. The birds made use of the raised platforms primarily when they were given access from the very first day of life. The enrichment materials provided were able to increase animal activity and pecking behaviour in the long term. The Animal Welfare Focus Network also reported on these findings and published videos on the topic of raised platforms and enrichment materials. These can be accessed here if you are interested.
As the final presentation before the lunch break, Dr Stephanie Schäfers from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover presented the EIP project ‘Broiler House 2023’, a construction concept for a forward-looking poultry house. Thanks to additional insulation in the external walls, energy consumption in this house is expected to be reduced, whilst animal health is set to benefit from the improved house climate. Furthermore, the heating units have been positioned closer to the animal area, and the supply and exhaust air have been centralised at a single point to enable better ventilation control. This allows for better control of the house climate, which is expected to lead to improved litter quality and, consequently, better animal health. Initial evaluations have already shown a reduction in heating requirements as well as a successful reduction in humidity and ammonia levels. The project will run until 30 April 2025.
After a short lunch break, some of the participants gathered in small groups to discuss the challenges identified by BroilerNet in the style of a ‘World Café’. In the area of animal welfare, topics included minimising stress and injuries caused by catching, optimising chick care, and improving the assessment and management of animal welfare on farms. In the area of sustainability, discussions centred on improving water management, improving manure and waste management, and assessing and minimising the ecological footprint of meat from slow-growing breeds. In the area of animal health, too, lively discussions took place on improving gut health, improving chick quality and reducing lameness problems.
Author: Dominik Jacobs, Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture