In September, the poultry farms participating in the Focus on Animal Welfare network went on a study trip to Bavaria and Austria to visit various farms and gain insights into their working methods. 

Visit to the Schubert family, Weißenbrunn-Eichenbühl (Upper Franconia)
The trip began with a visit to the Schubert family's Eichenbühler farm. The company derives its main income from the production, trade and direct marketing of eggs to regional food retailers. This is supplemented by its own farm shop with a wide range of products – from preserved fruit and vegetables to fruit spreads, home-distilled schnapps and liqueurs, pasta and, of course, eggs.
The farm now employs 15 people. After a friendly welcome by the senior farmers, Michael Schubert presented the business. This was followed by a tour of the free-range laying hen house and the packing station.

Visit to Steiner Automation, Hochburg-Ach (Upper Austria)
On the second day, the programme included a visit to Steiner Automation. After an introduction by Mr Steiner and Mr Eichelsberger, the participants gained exciting insights into the construction of mobile housing for laying hens. They also visited one of the larger models at a nearby farm. The company has over 40 years of experience and specialises in the manufacture of mobile housing and tailor-made technical solutions for stationary housing. A great deal of technical know-how was exchanged.

Visit to "Die Eiermacher" (The Egg Makers), Kremsmünster (Upper Austria)
The third day of the excursion took the group to the company "Die Eiermacher". Managing Director Robert Sperrer gave a comprehensive overview of the diversified company, which has around 190 employees.
The business areas are divided into the following sectors:

Pre-production:

• Own hatchery
• Trade in hatching eggs
• Chick production (20 organic broiler parent stock farms, 8 laying parent stock farms, 25 conventional and 36 organic pullet rearing farms)

Egg production:

• Collaboration with over 200 regional farms, including production of quail eggs

Egg marketing:

• Around 110 barn and free-range farms and 100 organic farms supply eggs, which are processed and marketed at the packing centre (approx. 190 million eggs per year)

Fattening and rearing:

• 15 organic duck fattening farms
• 120 farms breeding and rearing pullets and young cocks

Meat marketing and own slaughterhouse:

• Organic duck meat
• Organic brother rooster meat and soup chickens

After the company presentation, we visited the packing station and a pullet rearing farm.

Visit to Thomas Lehner, Auberg (Upper Austria)
In the afternoon, the group visited Thomas Lehner in Auberg to learn about Keimrad – both in production and in practical use on his own laying farm.
In addition to poultry house construction equipment, Lehner and his four employees produce innovative automated feed germination systems. The Keimrad enables the efficient and labour-saving production of germinated feed, especially for poultry farming. The germination process makes nutrients more readily available, which has positive effects on animal health and reduces feed costs at the same time. The system is fully automatic: several chambers ensure irrigation, turning of the grains and daily provision of fresh germinated feed.

Conclusion
The excursion offered extremely interesting insights into a wide variety of branches of poultry farming and marketing. The lively discussions and professional exchange within the group were also particularly
enriching.