Pilot Schemes Poultry on a tour of castles in Hesse
On 28 and 29 April 2026, the first network meeting of the Poultry Pilot Farms for 2026 took place at Buchenau Castle. The event offered participants the opportunity to exchange technical expertise, discuss current issues in poultry farming and further strengthen the network.
The network meeting kicked off with two specialist presentations at the heart of the programme, which addressed current challenges and key issues in poultry farming. The first presentation was given by Dr Christiane Keppler on the topic of ‘Predator protection in poultry farming’. The presentation addressed the growing challenges posed by predators and their impact on poultry flocks. Various protective measures and preventive approaches were presented that can help to effectively protect animals from attacks. In addition to structural and technical options, practical experiences and operational solutions were also discussed. The presentation offered participants valuable insights and highlighted the importance of a well-thought-out protection concept, particularly for free-range and mobile housing systems.
Following this, Nadja Hilmes gave a presentation on the topic of ‘Measures to maintain the health of poultry flocks’. The presentation focused on various methods and approaches that were tested as part of the AntiMinPro project. Measures and products were presented that are intended to support the health of poultry flocks and address challenges in flock management preventively. Initial findings and practical experiences from the project were presented, and the areas of application and potential effects of the tested measures were explained. This gave participants an insight into current innovative approaches that could contribute to maintaining the health of poultry flocks in the future. The presentation also provided an opportunity for questions and an in-depth technical discussion regarding the experiences and results presented.
To complement the technical programme, a spontaneous guided tour of the grounds of Buchenau Castle took place, offering participants interesting insights into the historic site. The first day of the event concluded with a collegial exchange in a relaxed atmosphere, during which numerous discussions took place and experiences were shared.
On the second day, the programme took participants to Eichhof Castle, the LLH’s agricultural centre. The agenda there began with a presentation on Newcastle disease, which provided up-to-date information and technical background. Following this, participants were given a farm tour offering fascinating insights into various areas of work and research at the site. Among other things, new innovations in pig farming, laying hen management in mobile housing, and other current developments and practical approaches in agriculture were presented. The event concluded with a group lunch, which once again provided an opportunity for personal discussions and further exchange.
The first network meeting of the Poultry Pilot Farms in 2026 thus offered a successful combination of technical input, practical insights and valuable networking.