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Competence center for demonstration farms in the field of animal protection

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection


Project code: TI-OL-08-PID1408
Contract period: 01.01.2015 - 30.04.2017
Purpose of research: Networks and research co-ordination

The Competence Center oversees and professional coordinates the nationwide network “Demonstration Farms Animal Protection.” In 24 topically related sub-networks 120 demonstration farms implement measures extending beyond the current animal protection standards. Since May 1, 2014, the Research Institute for Biological Agricultural Projects GmbH (FiBL) and the State Agricultural Farm Hessen (LLH) on behalf of a nationwide inter and transdisciplinary consortium in the development of an animal protection competence center. The animal protection competence center will prepare scientifically based, practical and innovative concepts to serve the animal welfare in practicing farms. These concepts shall also be established in professional consulting and make professional information available to the general public. According materials will contain both, extensive information on the concepts, as well as for the assessment of animal welfare in practicing farms. They are based on the documentation and analysis of animal related indicators. The Thünen Institute for Organic Framing oversees the scientific accompaniment and evaluation of the model and demonstration projects in animal protection. It is sponsored by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The Competence Center accompanies the development of the network and the introduction of optimized management in the demonstration farms. It notes the local situation and analyzes it, drafts working plans with the farms and serves throughout the entire course of the project as a consultant. In this manner a basis for the effective transfer of research results in animal projection to farm practice is attained. The Competence Center ensures a nationwide local accompaniment for the demonstration farms. Within the project consortium, the LLH mainly oversees the content and the FiBL is responsible for administration and communications. In the project period, the Competence Center drafts solutions for the most urgent animal protection problems in the various production areas of ruminants, pigs, poultry and rabbits. In the topic related networks, participating farms are linked together and advised by the projection consortium as well as supported in the implementation of concepts. Events, for example farm tours with farms from the region, are an important part of the multiplying effect of the network. In this manner, the competence center supports the 120 demonstration farms. The Thünen Institute of Organic Farming, in close cooperation with the Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen (KTBL), accompanies the Competence Center scientifically in that it defines animal and farm related indicators and communicates the results gained on how the indicators are to be monitored and which methods are to be applied. After creating standardized formulas for the survey, we train the participating consultants on data surveying (status quo, interim and concluding surveys). The main purpose of the following survey is to monitor the effectiveness of the implemented recommendations for action. All surveys of animal related indicators are at the farm level; all information on individual animals are recalculated for further analysis in terms of incidence of prevalence on the herd level. In close cooperation between KTBL and OL the following is made: - A descriptive evaluation of the content of the implemented recommendations for action (focused animal wellness areas, frequent recommendations for action) as well as the implementation of the catalog of measures on the individual farms. - The evaluation of the effect of measures implemented from the catalog to optimize animal welfare on the basis of selected indicators. - A comparison of costs and benefits before during and after the implementation of the measures, in order to better evaluate them with regard to additional costs and benefits for the farm.

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Subjects

Framework programme

BMEL Frameworkprogramme 2008

Associated projects: Competence center for demonstration farms in the field of animal protection Project

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