Experiment to protect grass in runs of laying hens
Description:
The aim is to find a possibility for farmers with free-range hens to fulfil the commission regulation (EEC) on certain marketing standards for eggs. That means, a) that hens have continuous daytime access to open-air runs and b) that the ground to which hens have access is mainly covered with vegetation. The production period lasted longer than 1 year. Even if each hen had 0.8 m² free range instead of 4 m² according to the regulation, vegetation remained complete - with exception of the first 1 to 3 m at the house - in those cases where a plastic grid (accessible also for persons) was 10 cm over the soil. A thick layer of manure was on the vegetation of the first 1 to 3 meters. Hens destroyed all the vegetation where the run had no grid. The pop-holes were open all the time from sunrise to one hour after sunset. Averaged each hen used the run more than 25 % of the time. The destruction of the vegetation could be prevented in the run, however costs of material per m² were very high.
Executive Institute:
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT) Details of FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry
Parent institution:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute - Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI) Details of (FLI) (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
Contract period:
01. 01. 2001 - 30. 04. 2003
Funding Programme:
- BMELV / Core funding Details of BMELV / Core funding
Subject:
- Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
Purpose of research:
Applied research
Funding Institutions:
- Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) Details of (BMELV)
Project Management Agency:
- Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) Details of BMELV