Projects

EVELIN – Protein supply for laying Hens in Lower Saxony

Authority

Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

Federal State

Lower Saxony and Bremen

Contact

Calenberger Straße 2
30169 Hannover

Website: External link to the authority

Project Title

EVELIN – Protein supply for laying Hens in Lower Saxony

Project description

This project studies the impact of feeding larvae on the animal behavior an egg quality of laying hens. The basic hypothesis is that added larvae generally has a positive impact on animal welfare, but also on the economy of poultry in general. The use of insect larvae increases the value added, because secondary stream products are turned into high quality feed. This high quality feed is than fed to the laying hens. This new supply chain enables economically as well as ecologically sustainable uses of secondary stream materials from the agriculture and food industry. In a first step, the optimum feed addition with insect larvae is determined. In a second step, we will examine different machines for the automation of insect feeding. We will look at the whole supply chain and determine necessary improvements. This requires the testing of all procedures and steps in order to use synergies develop an optimal flow.

Results focusing on practiceorientation

The EIP Project EVELIN dealt with the production of larvae as well as feeding larvae to laying hens. In
conclusion, the project showed that a stable larvae production system with a consistent larvae quality
can be set up. The sustainability of that system can be improved by using green energy and waste
streams as a feed source. Also, using the full capacity of that system will improve the overall
sustainability. Feeding larvae to laying hens did not influence the egg quality significantly. Mortality
was decreased, compared to the stable without larvae as additional feed. Furthermore, the plumage
of the layers showed less injuries. Feeding 4,5 kg of living larvae to 300 hens was possible. The
construction and testing of an automated larvae-feeding system was conducted. That system needs
further improvement in order to increase time savings and lower its costs.

Key words

  • Animal husbandry
  • Circular economy, incl. waste, by-products and residues
  • animal welfare

Main funding source

Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)

OG contact information

Institut Querfeld Group GbR
Alenconer Straße 30
49610 Quakenbrück

Phone: 05431/9263613

Email: cgm@querfeldgroup.de

Type of OG partners

  • Farmer
  • Advisor
  • Researcher

Begin of project

2019

Project status

completed

Total budget applied for in EUR

442,610

Link 1

project website of EIP Lower Saxony

NUTS3 CODE

DE94E

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