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Collaborative project: Further developments on small group systems ('Kleingruppenhaltung”) for laying hens – Subproject 7

Project


Project code: 2813600807
Contract period: 01.01.2008 - 30.04.2012
Budget: 111,621 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development

The aim of this scientific project was to advance and optimise small group housing systems for laying hens with respect to their effects on animal health, animal behaviour, hygiene, environmental emissions and economic aspects. For this purpose, small group housing systems were implemented at five different experimental farms and then subsequently modified in their equipment over three laying cycles. These steps were taken in close collaboration between manufacturers and scientific institutions. The results showed that high productivity rates together with a sound hygienic standard and low level of emissions could be obtained. However, due to the legal specifications of the systems, technical advancements were strongly limited and improvements on animal health and behavioural aspects were therefore partly deficient. Furthermore, this study showed that apart from technical modifications, management conditions (i.e. raising conditions, light intensity, layer line) seemed most important in order to keep hens in small group housing systems.

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