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Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung des Landes Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Mercatorstraße 3
24106 Kiel
Website: External link to the authority
Optimization of animal welfare and significant extension of the residence period for vital senior laying hens in organic farming
Because actually the residence period of laying hens is 12 months and flocks are periodically renewed, the male half of them is killed as one day old chickens. This ethically less than satisfactory situation shows a project as wanting which could develop management systems in respect to appropriate animal welfare of laying hens, with the goal to significantly extend their lifetime to about two years. Six farms, consultants and scientists participate in this project, developing key parameters to be measured with a passage of layers over the extended residence period and systematically check and record the data in the hen houses. "Animal welfare indicators" show the effects of the actions undertaken. In addition, the economic situation of the farms with senior laying hens is analyzed.The suitability of the methods for prolonged laying hen holding is judged at the end of the project to decide their possible merits and further implementation on other farms.
Experimental flocks with an induced laying break were compared with flocks with individual laying breaks. The analysed laying performance and weight development for a longer rearing period provide indications for both rearing methods. Regardless of the method, the continuous weight gain of the young laying hens and good vaccination protection appear to be decisive for a persistent laying performance. From an economic point of view, it became clear that longer rearing reduces the remounting rate and thus the proportionate costs of the pullets can be spread over more eggs. If the laying break is used as a regeneration phase, treatment measures (e.g. deworming) can be carried out during this time without economic losses and the hens start the next laying period with their plumage intact. The project carried out revealed weaknesses, but also the advantages of a longer rearing period, e.g. through animal welfare benchmarking.
Animal husbandry
Rural development 2014-2020
Ökoring S.-H. e.V., Versuchs- und Beratungsring Ökologischer Landbau Schleswig-Holstein
Grüner Kamp 15-17
24768 Rendsburg
Phone: 04331-9453460
Email: romanaholle@oekoring-sh.de
2015
completed
228,501