Third-party funded projects

Project management: Dr. Julia Johns; Frauke, Umbach; Prof. Dr. Ute, Knierim

Project description

The aim of the project is the (further) development of a reliable, transparent and practicable testing concept for animal welfare control in organic farming within the framework of organic control using primarily animal-related indicators that have proven to be valid in previous scientific studies. The starting point for this is the inspection concepts for animal welfare inspection already used in organic inspection by various organic inspection bodies and organic associations. Taking into account existing indicator and assessment systems for similar purposes, these are to be reviewed with regard to the criteria of validity, reliability and practicability and, if necessary, further developed. In addition to the great diversity of farms due to their location and structure, the possible time and financial expenditure for the training of inspectors and the implementation of animal welfare inspections within the framework of organic inspections represents a major challenge. Based on existing systems and in coordination with the German organic sector, the methodology for a risk-oriented, graduated inspection concept is to be developed in a participatory approach that incorporates existing farm data as well as animal-related data collected on the farms themselves. This self-collection can also be used by the farms for the farm's  self-inspection in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act. The aim of the animal welfare inspection as part of the organic inspection is to identify problem farms, to initiate an improvement in animal welfare on these farms and, if necessary, to derive measures and sanctions to be implemented if a deficient  initial situation has not been improved. Online and barn training concepts are being further developed for the  competence management of new and experienced inspectors.
.

Project management: Dr. Krieger, Margret; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Jung, Lisa; Matoni, Luisa; Umbach, Frauke; Bolten, Anika

Project details:

The aim of the ProBioHuhn project is to make a fundamental contribution to the development of new strategies for the
reduction of diseases on organic broiler farms with special consideration
of the gut microbiome. This is subdivided into the following objectives:
(1) To expand the knowledge of disease and therapy frequencies as well as the antibiotic
resistance situation in organic broiler flocks with regard to three different fattening types
(slower-growing fattening hybrids, cockerels from dual-purpose and laying lines),
(2) To clarify the relationships between fattening type and gut microbiome, disease rates
and antibiotic resistance, taking into account animal age, fattening performance, housing environment and
management including feeding. feeding, e.g. with regard to fiber content.
(3) Derivation and evaluation of innovative strategies to reduce diseases on
organic broiler farms, taking into account internal and cross-farm and
stage factors (feeding, health management, fattening types, etc.).

The three types of broiler chickens found in organic livestock farming (slower-growing
broiler hybrids, cockerels from dual-purpose and laying lines) are examined in terms of their animal welfare with
special consideration of animal health, their gut microbiome and their resistance to antibiotics
during the fattening period. To this end, a total of 60 fattening runs are being examined on 15
practice farms (five farms per fattening type, four runs per farm). In each fattening run, the investigations include the evaluation of the farm documentation of the
animal health status and the slaughterhouse findings. Furthermore, the feed rations are analyzed at five  different points in time for each round, and animal-related welfare indicators (body condition, behaviour, signs of disease) and performance parameters are recorded. At the same time, faecal and environmental samples are taken to characterize the intestinal microbiome and detect pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. The aim is to determine whether there are differences in these parameters between the different types of fatteners and between different age groups and to what extent this is influenced by the company's health management. A particular focus is on the explorative analysis of the interactions between housing environment, feeding, age, fattening type and the microbiome, disease rates and antibiotic resistance as well as fattening performance.

Comparisons of the fattening types, taking into account farm effects, allow conclusions to be drawn about the resistance to pathogens determined by
the fattening type and the resilience or
adaptability to husbandry conditions on organic farms. The data collected can also be used to identify, in particular, operational risk factors for the impairment of animal welfare. The evaluation of the longitudinally collected data allows conclusions to be drawn about the development over time of resistance, resistance to antimicrobial substances and animal welfare, which can provide important information about the optimal times for prevention and control measures. Innovative strategies for reducing diseases on organic broiler farms are to be derived from the results. Both internal farm factors (feeding, health management, etc.) and cross-farm and cross-stage factors (fattening types, husbandry methods, etc.) will be taken into account. Strategies to be derived are evaluated in the project with relevant stakeholders with regard to their acceptance and feasibility and then disseminated.

Project management: Prof.Dr.Knierim, Ute ; Gieseke, Daniel ; Dorkewitz, Katrin

Project participants: Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen; Georg - August - University of Göttingen, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Merketing for Food and Agricultural Products

Project description:

Mobile barns, which are spreading with great dynamism in organic and conventional egg production, probably meet consumer expectations regarding visibility and type of animal husbandry to a very large extent and, if moved frequently enough, have advantages in terms of environmental impact and animal behavior. The extent to which they also have a positive effect on animal health, an important aspect of animal welfare, has not yet been proven. They have both risk-reducing and risk-promoting factors for various animal welfare problems. Stable-specific management is of great importance here. Therefore, one aim of the project is to examine the animal welfare of different types of mobile barns and, if necessary, to identify specific management requirements, also with regard to predator defense in the field, as well as to assess the effect of targeted advice. Since the economically successful use of mobile houses depends on whether an additional benefit can be communicated to consumers compared to stationary houses, fact-based and target group-specific marketing strategies are also to be developed. In addition to the question of egg marketing, the acceptance of mobile barns by the population is a success factor. For this reason, possible conflicts in the construction of barns as well as the assessment of residents with regard to the environmental and health effects of mobile barns in the local area are being investigated. Overall, the project aims to provide information and recommendations for action for a future field of laying hen husbandry and thus focus on an innovative husbandry method that promotes contact between agriculture and society.

Project participants: Prof. Dr. Ute, Knierim ; Dr Asja, Ebinghaus; Rebecca Franz- Wippermann

Project details:

In organic cattle and pig farming, access to pasture or outdoor runs is obligatory. In addition, there are increasingly innovative systems with indoor and outdoor areas that are not clearly separated, making it unclear which sections of the housing system are to be counted as indoor and which as outdoor areas according to the EU Organic Regulation. Despite sufficient total area, it is possible to fall short of the area requirements in the barn in particular, without this being associated with disadvantages for the animals. On the other hand, such more open husbandry methods can also offer advantages in terms of animal welfare. The aim of the project was to develop husbandry criteria, taking into account the species-specific needs of cattle and pigs, which can be used to assess whether the requirements for particularly animal-friendly husbandry are met, regardless of the distribution of the available space between the indoor and outdoor areas. The criteria were discussed with broad expert participation and their applicability was tested using examples of husbandry methods. In an English-language report, the current state of knowledge on the needs of pigs and cattle with special reference to outdoor climate conditions and the derived husbandry criteria is presented and examples of innovative, particularly animal-friendly husbandry methods that meet the developed criteria are presented. It is concluded that the distinction between indoor and outdoor areas is not very meaningful for the new, more open husbandry methods and that the criteria developed should instead be used to assess whether these methods offer conditions for improved animal welfare. Regulation (EU) 2020/464 should make it possible to deviate from the minimum indoor and outdoor areas laid down in Part I of Annex I in positive cases, provided that the required minimum total area (indoor and outdoor area) is offered.

Project description:

The aim of the project is to develop an animal-related indicator system for use in audits to assess the level of animal welfare on laying hen farms with surveys in the barn and at the slaughterhouse and to test its practical suitability. This includes an extensive literature search to identify suitable animal-related indicators and the development of proposals for survey methods for the indicators to be collected at farm level and at the slaughterhouse with detailed descriptions and illustrations. The developed scoring schemes will be tested in a field study on farms and at various slaughterhouses with regard to the criteria of validity, reliability and practicability. Based on the findings of the practical tests on the project farms and at the abattoir, the selection of indicators and method descriptions will be critically reviewed and modified if necessary. Training materials in the form of guidelines and survey cards for inspectors and slaughterhouse employees will then be compiled.  

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Gieseke, Daniel

Project participants: Keppler, Christiane

Project description:

The aim of the project is to introduce a regular, systematic animal welfare survey (on-farm self-monitoring) on 50 KAT livestock farms and to accompany the surveys scientifically. For this purpose, various training materials for online and face-to-face training courses will be created based on the modified KAT form "Herd assessment", training courses will be held and an online test will be designed to compare the agreement between auditors/test farms and experts. Following the practical application of the animal welfare self-assessment, test farms and auditors will be surveyed with regard to the practical suitability of the animal welfare survey with the KAT tool and the training materials for online and face-to-face training will be modified if necessary.

Project management: Dr. Ivemeyer, Silvia; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Simantke, Christel

Project description:

Various natural feeding systems for calves, young stock and dairy cows under the
diverse organic production conditions are being compiled in the eight participating
European countries  and examined with regard to possible improvements in animal welfare
.

Specific topics are the improvement of the rearing of
feeder calves as well as roughage-based feeding strategies for young cattle and
dairy cows, with the aim of strengthening the animals'
immune status without sacrificing performance and profitability, and reducing the use of antibiotics and
anthelmintics. With German participation, the hypotheses
are being investigated as to (1) whether feeder-reared calves benefit from
increased milk quantities in terms of animal welfare and performance and (2) whether pure hay feeding (without
silage in the ration) has positive health effects.

Furthermore,
the various existing mother- and dam-based
calf rearing systems in all seven participating countries are identified and
described, and the legal and economic framework conditions for this
in the participating countries are compared.

Publications:

 Project management: Lange, Jeannette, C.; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

Despite the good conditions for healthy, species-appropriate and
economically successful pig farming, there is still a need for optimization and potential for improvement in
various areas
for organic farms, e.g. in the area of
animal losses, injury rates or organic performance,
all of which also influence the economic success of
farms. Although individual studies have already
addressed this topic, no resounding
improvement has yet been achieved in practice.

The project builds on the existing findings, in cooperation with the
entire value chain (sow farmers, fatteners, processors) and in
collaboration with consultants and scientists. In a first step
, indicators for assessing the
herd are defined together with the farm managers. Farm managers are trained to carry out their own
flock inspections in order to gain a better
view of the problems in the flock and to record key parameters
.
Slaughterhouse staff are also trained to recognize and
document slaughter findings in a uniform and repeatable manner. Farmers and slaughterhouse staff are supported by the
project partners in collecting data. Based on the
evaluated results, areas are identified together with the farm managers and the
processor in which the farms can achieve improvements through
appropriate measures.

Following implementation of the measures and renewed data collection,
generalizable action plans for practice and a
concept for successful consulting can be developed. Both contribute
to the expansion of organic pig farming.

Funded by: European Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" in North Rhine-Westphalia (EIP Agricultural Directive)

Publications:

Project management: Gieseke, Daniel; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare; Waiblinger, Susanne (Vet Med Uni Vienna); Eiermacher GmbH

Project description:

The aim of the project is to develop an animal-related indicator system for use in audits to assess the level of animal welfare on organic Peking duck farms with surveys in the barn and at the slaughterhouse and to test its practical suitability. This includes an extensive literature research to identify suitable animal-related indicators and the development of proposals for survey methods for the indicators to be collected at farm level and at the slaughterhouse with detailed descriptions and illustrations. The developed scoring schemes will be tested in a field study in practice farms and a slaughterhouse with regard to the criteria of validity, reliability and practicability. Based on the findings of the practical tests on the project farms and at the abattoir, the selection of indicators and method descriptions will be critically reviewed and modified if necessary. Training materials in the form of guidelines and survey cards will then be compiled for the inspectors and slaughterhouse employees

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dr. Fink-Keßler, Andrea

Project description:

The aim of this EIP project is to promote a more stress-free
slaughter of cattle, sheep and goats. Transportation and
an unfamiliar environment have a negative impact on both animal welfare and
meat quality. Currently, it is only permitted to slaughter cattle kept on pasture
all year round on the farm. In the project,
options for slaughtering on the farm are to be developed and agreed with the responsible
authorities. Technical requirements and a
guideline will be developed for this purpose. A mobile stunning stand and a special
transport trailer are to enable immediate bleeding after stunning with the
captive bolt and thus avoid live cattle transports.

The members of the operational group are Dr. Andrea Fink-Keßler (Die
Landforscher/Büro für Agrar-und Regionalentwicklung, BAR, coordination), 4 farms, a slaughterhouse, Innovative
Schlachtsysteme-ISS, Handwerkliche Fleischerfachberatung (Sven Lindauer), Verband der Landwirte mit handwerklicher Fleischverarbeitung (vlhf) and the Vereinigung Hessischer Direktvermarkter (VHD). Associated partners include the University of Kassel, representatives of the veterinary authorities, the Biolandlandesverband Hessen e.V., the Öko-Modellregion Nordhessen and the Kreisbauernverband Werra-Meißner-Kreis.

The state of Hesse is funding the project via the European
Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and
Sustainability" (EIP-Agri)

Project management: Jung, Lisa; Gonzalez, Jennifer; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

A

newly developed automated, image-based recording system of the animal welfare indicator
'sternum status' at the slaughterhouse was validated on more than 2000 laying hens
and brought to practical maturity. In order to test the transferability of the results to the
farm situation, the prevalence of
sternum damage was recorded in 20 flocks prior to removal, after catching
and transportation at the live receiving area and at the slaughter chain. It was found that catching and transport
did not result in any detectable damage and that the automated
recording led to a slight underestimation of the prevalence. The system
offers the possibility to record the sternum status in many flocks over long periods of time
in a comparable manner and to provide feedback to the
laying hen farmers. In contrast, the development of a recording system for
skin lesions was not possible under practical conditions in the slaughter chain
. Two approaches were pursued for a possible cannibalism early warning system for fattening turkeys
: Metal balls equipped with a microphone
were developed, with which pecking frequencies
can be reliably detected in the barn using a CNN model. Using optical flow, changes
in general activity were recorded automatically. Both methods have been largely
validated and are ready for use. Correlations with the occurrence of cannibalism
have not yet been found; however, this still requires further investigation.

In
cooperation with the company CLK GmbH, which was responsible for the technical aspects of the
project, as well as with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation (project coordination), the University of Munich and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Barnstorfer Geflügelschlachterei and Heidemark GmbH

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag, see www.ble.de/ptble/innovationsfoerderung-bmel/

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

The aim of this testing concept is to support the testing of animal welfare aspects within the framework of inspections carried out in accordance with EU legislation on organic production for inspection personnel of the competent authorities and organic inspection bodies by means of a standardized procedure.

At the heart of the inspection concept is the competence of the personnel who carry out and evaluate these inspections. To this end, the concept is based on intensive training of inspectors to make it easier for them to recognize relevant animal welfare problems. By involving scientists, inspection bodies, associations and official animal welfare bodies in the development and discussion of the concept, a broad basis for a uniform understanding should be created, which will then also be useful for the necessary follow-up in the area of advice and involvement of official veterinarians. As it is not possible to fully anticipate possible problems on the farms, the concept is intended to control an inspection through the competence of the trained inspectors. Checklists are kept short and flexible in order to be able to react to new circumstances. The recognition and classification of the most frequently encountered animal welfare indicators are supported by picture cards with definitions of the respective condition or damage. In addition, free text is used in the documentation to describe the situations encountered. These free texts are to be supplemented by photos to make the situations comprehensible.

The inspection concept currently covers laying hens, broilers, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle.

Supported by: Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of Lower Saxony

In cooperation with: Gesellschaft für Resourcenschutz (GFRS) and Beratung Artgerechte Tierhaltung (BAT e.V.)

Project management: Gieseke, Daniel; Fetscher, Sarina; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

The aim of the BLE project is to test and further develop selected animal welfare indicators for operational self-monitoring in terms of their practical suitability and reliability on livestock farms. Different training options for livestock farmers to record the indicators will be compared. Furthermore, an orientation framework for the classification of the results is to be agreed and user-friendly software for the practical collection and evaluation is to be provided. Livestock farmers should be able to carry out a systematic and regular review of their animals' welfare in order to identify any animal welfare problems and check the success of improvement measures. The project is being carried out jointly with the Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft (KTBL, coordinator), the Thünen Institute, Trenthorst (cattle) and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle (pigs). The application to poultry is being handled by the University of Kassel.

Link to the project website

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag. The project is sponsored by the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) as part of the program to promote innovation.

In cooperation with: Schultheiß, U. and Zapf, R. (Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft), Brinkmann, J., Cimer, K. and March (Thünen-Institut), Schrader, L. and Schubbert, A. (Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut).

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Olschewsky, Anna; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Prof. Dr. Riehn, Katharina

Project description:

Although the proportion of organic turkey farming in Germany is comparatively low at less
than 2%, the sector is attracting attention, particularly
due to the use of fast-growing conventional lines and
sometimes high prevalence of various performance- and
husbandry-related diseases. To date,
little information is available on the extent of these
problems in alternative slower-growing turkey breeds.

The present
study therefore examined the results of slower
growing turkey breeds under organic practice conditions
in terms of behavior, health, meat quality and performance
. The strains Hockenhull Black (robust with
reduced performance potential) and Hockenhull Large Bronze (suitable for
free-range farming with similar performance to Kelly BBB) were compared with the
reference genetics Kelly BBB, which is already used more frequently as a slower-growing genetics
. The rearing and fattening of around 2 x 50
cockerels per genetics in three runs (844 animals in total) on a
biodynamic practice farm in a mobile barn were scientifically monitored from 2015
to 2018 with the following investigations:
continuous documentation of mortality and causes of death;
recording of the length of use of certain housing areas by means of direct
and video observation with instantaneous scan sampling, scoring of
plumage and skin condition as an indicator of feather pecking, cannibalism
and social conflicts, as well as recording of walking ability,
leg position and foot condition in the 7th, 16th and 25th week., 16th and 25th
week of life. After partial slaughter in the 17th, 20th and 25th
week of life, the condition of the foot pads and thoracic
skin on the carcass and the presence of injuries and scratches were assessed. In addition,
live and carcass weights,
weights of valuable cuts, pH values, drip juice losses and
blood points were recorded at these times. In addition, daily weight gains and
feed conversion were calculated. The data were analysed for possible effects of
"genetics" and "week of life" and their interaction with linear or
generalized linear mixed models and
effect sizes were calculated. Some of the data were analyzed using non-
parametric methods due to small
sample sizes or violations of the normal distribution.

As a result, only a few
significant differences with mainly small effect sizes
were found between the genetics. Exceptions were a significantly
worse leg health in Hockenhull Bronze, an increased occurrence
of breast blisters in Kelly BBB and a high proportion of
footpad lesions in Hockenhull Black. However, the latter were characterized
by low mortality, fewer
leg deformities and a reduced injury rate. Overall, the
injury prevalence rates were for the most part lower than in
comparative studies. It can therefore be concluded that both
the two alternative origins and the reference genetics can be reared and fattened under
organic practice conditions with 100% organic feeding and
good management in such a way that an acceptable to good status
in terms of behavior, health and meat quality is achieved with
comparatively high performance.

The project was funded by the Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank.

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Ivemeyer, Silvia; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Simantke, Christel

Project description:

The project with partners from seven European countries (AT, CH, DK, DE, LI,
PL, SE) focused on ways to improve the udder and metabolic situation on organic dairy farms .

Germany (DE) was involved in the following sub-projects:

Comparison of health and production traits between local and widely
distributed breeds: In DE, the local breed Anglerrinder old breed showed comparable production and health levels to Holstein cows under relatively extensive farm conditions and
can therefore be recommended under low-input conditions.

Description of different farm types regarding management and herd health:
In DE it was shown that different management strategies can lead to similar
results regarding herd health and longevity
, whereby farms with higher milk yield not only have a higher
input regarding feed with high energy density such as maize or
concentrates, but also regarding health care.
Such differences should be taken into account in advice and research
.

Identification of stress effects on mastitis risk and
healing capacity: Based on studies of 30 herds in DE and
DK, the overall pattern is that positive attitudes and interactions on the part of the farmer, which build a positive human-animal relationship and enable early problem detection, can have a positive influence on udder health. Herds with lower stress levels showed a better mastitis healing capacity. These correlations should be given greater consideration in future
research and mastitis control, without neglecting the known management and husbandry risk factors.

Practical experience with premature drying off of individual quarters during lactation
in mild chronically inflamed udder quarters: This can be a strategy to reduce the use of antibiotics. However, thorough observation is essential.

In collaboration with: Winckler, C. and Fürst-Waltl, B. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Wallenbeck, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden; Spengler, A. and Bieber, A., Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FIBL, Switzerland; Sorensen J.T., Kargo, M., University of Aarhus, Denmark; Walczak, J. and Woijcek, P., National Research Institute of Animal Production, Poland; Ribikauskas, V., Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania (

https://projects.au.dk/coreorganicplus/research-projects/organicdairyhealth/)

Publications:

Project management: M.Sc. Ebinghaus, Asja; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dr. Ivemeyer, Silvia; Prof. Dr. König, Sven; Simantke, Christel

Project description:

The aim of the project was to evaluate
measures for assessing the human-animal bond (HAB) in dairy cows
with regard to their reliability, validity and practicability in
animal welfare research and animal breeding. Furthermore, a
cross-sectional study was to identify key factors influencing cow behavior
towards humans.

Four behavioral measures,
which proved to be practicable and reliable in terms of
inter- and intra-observer reliability in a pilot phase, were applied on 33 practical farms:
Avoidance Distance (AD), Touch Tolerance (BT), Release Behavior (VF)
and Qualitative Behavioral Assessment during a Human-Animal Interaction
(QBA). On three farms, the assessments were repeated after three weeks,
to check the test-retest reliability. In addition, the previous
breeding traits milkability (ø
milk flow/min.) and milking temperament (subjective evaluation) were used by the breeding associations and the tripping (STEP) and kicking (KICK) per cow*milking time
were observed on farms
with milking parlors. With regard to potential influences, the attitudes of
people, factors relating to human-animal contact, herd, management and husbandry
were surveyed.

Differently strong
correlations between AD, BT, VF and QBA suggest that the measured variables partly
reflect different aspects of MTB. QBA showed the strongest
correlations and appears to reflect the most common aspects. Also
in terms of repeatability over time, QBA proved to be the
most promising. STEP and KICK did not correlate with AD, BT, VF, QBA or
the breeding traits. This suggests that cow behavior in the
milking parlor reflects factors other than fearfulness or trust
towards humans. For MTB assessment in animal welfare research,
QBA therefore appears to be particularly suitable. AD can also be considered as a breeding trait
: the application is simpler and a
moderate heritability was estimated in the breeding subproject.

In the
cross-sectional study of influences on MTB, multivariable models
were calculated for AD, BT, VF, and QBA. Positive attitudes towards the animals
were associated with calmer herds in all test situations. Furthermore,
relationships existed between individual outcome variables and various herd and
management factors, which may directly or indirectly reflect the quantity and quality of
human-animal contact: e.g. the % of dehorned cows in
the herd was associated with more timid cows. In contrast, the frequency of
human-animal contact, manual feed presentation or selection for docility
were associated with calmer cows. Thus, the results indicate
that a positive attitude and regular human-animal contact on
different farm types can contribute to calmer cows in different
interactions with humans in the barn.

As part of the
associated CoreOrganic project "OrganicDairyHealth",
links between MTB, stress response and udder health of cows were also demonstrated.

Funded by the State of Hesse as part of the State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE)

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Fetscher, Sarina; Hilmes, Nadja

Project description:

As part of the model and demonstration project on animal welfare, a management tool (MTool) was tested and further developed on the basis of scientific findings and practical experience. It is used for the animal-oriented assessment of management success and allows a structured approach to analyzing the causes of inadequate animal welfare (e.g. the occurrence of feather pecking and cannibalism). This is intended to facilitate the decision-making process for improving husbandry conditions and management.

The work was funded as part of the "Directive on the funding of measures for the transfer of new findings from research and development projects (R&D projects) into agricultural practice in the context of model and demonstration projects on animal welfare" of June 4, 2013 with funds from the  Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Project management: Dipl.-Biol., M.A. Benzing, Birgit; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Prof. Dr. Dr. Köchy, Kristian; Hilbert, Christopher

Project description:

The keeping of farm animals has undergone numerous changes in recent decades. On the one hand, many improvements have been achieved in terms of animal welfare, on the other hand, a large number of farm animals live in conditions that cause suffering, and applied ethology has developed a wide range of concepts and methods to enable reliable statements to be made about the extent of animal welfare and suffering. Upstream methodological assumptions have a significant influence on the design of the study, in particular when an explanation is considered scientifically appropriate and which methods are considered suitable for answering it. For example, attitudes towards the scientific accessibility of emotional experience in animals have changed. While older writings largely call for restraint, as inner experience cannot be recorded, more recent approaches do not fundamentally question the scientific approach. The aim of the doctoral project is to document the changes in methodological research practice and to explicate the accompanying conceptual frameworks and methodological assumptions. The focus is on ethological methods for recording positive and negative emotions in farm animals. The interdisciplinary project, which combines applied ethology and philosophy of science, includes an extensive literature review as well as a reconstruction of the epistemic virtues of the research field.animal welfare research offers an exciting field of investigation to relate changing methodological assumptions and methodological-technical developments to each other.

Funded by the State of Hesse as part of the State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE)

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Johns, Julia; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Mück, Ulrich; Sixt, Dieter; Poddey, Eike; Kremer, Hans-Josef

Project description:

35 conversion farms
and 5 already established comparison farms were accompanied scientifically and
by consulting over 5 years. On the basis of repeated status quo analyses, the
findings from individual farm advice, the exchange of knowledge in
experience groups, the inclusion of practitioners' experiences, surveys on
self-catching feed fences on 31 farms and the literature, a
"toolbox for keeping horn-bearing dairy cows" was developed. This gives
systematic guidance on how to determine the status quo with regard to horn-related damage at
and evaluate it using a traffic light system. If necessary, it enables
to identify the causes and make recommendations for improvements. One of
the results of the project was that most of the
clashes resulting in injury, with individual differences between farms, took place in the feeding and
waiting area and during exit from the milking parlor. The reduction of
competitive situations, the promotion of a calm herd and a good overview
at the drinking troughs for the cows proved to be consistently favorable
for the reduction of horn-related damage. On farms with good interaction between
animals, husbandry, herd management and humans, low levels of horn-related damage
were recorded, even if some aspects, such as aisle widths or dead ends,
did not comply with the usual recommendations. At the same time, the more practical recommendations were met, the
less damage generally occurred. Additional investigations
on 21 farms in the 4th year showed a positive effect of summer
grazing on skin damage. The occurrence of blood milk, systematically recorded in 25
herds in the 5th year, was reduced by reduced feed competition. The latest
surveys on 20 farms showed that some of the successes of the advisory process
only become visible in the longer term. The project results were transferred into practice in 10
practical workshops and 2 advisor training courses.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) via the BLE as part of the Federal Program for Organic Farming and Other Forms of Sustainable Agriculture (BöLN)

In cooperation with: Bioland Beratung GmbH and Demeter e.V.

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Lange, Jeannette

Project participants: Dr. Kempkens, Karl; Stiebing, Achim; Upmann, Matthias

Project description:

The current practice of castrating piglets without anaesthesia to prevent boar taint appears questionable from an animal welfare point of view. It was therefore prohibited by Regulation (EC) 889 (2008) for organic farming with effect from January 1, 2012. For this reason, alternatives are being sought on all sides in both organic and non-organic farming and the associated value chains. The aim of the research was therefore to develop a concept for the production, slaughter and processing of organically produced boars along the entire value chain. To this end, it was investigated to what extent it is possible to provide boars with sufficient nutrition under organic conditions by feeding them in line with their needs, to keep them in an animal welfare-friendly manner through adapted husbandry and management measures and to minimize the development of boar taint and taste. In the area of slaughtering and processing, a practical detection method for animals with sexual odor was developed and procedural instructions for the production of sensory inconspicuous products from odor-active boar meat with the most complete possible utilization of the boar carcasses were drawn up. For a comprehensive evaluation of the practical suitability of the concept, an economic assessment of organic boar fattening was also carried out.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag as part of the Federal Program for Organic Farming and Other Forms of Sustainable Agriculture (BÖLN)

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

This project served to develop national requirements and positions, which were incorporated into a feasibility study funded by the European Commission for the development of a coordinated European animal welfare network "Coordinated European Animal Welfare Network" (EUWelNet; SANCO 2012/10293). One focus of the work was in the area of broiler farming. The project also served to transfer information with German key agencies.

The feasibility study was a pilot project aimed at investigating the feasibility and benefits of a future European animal welfare network to support authorities and businesses in the implementation and enforcement of European animal welfare legislation.

A total of 16 universities and 10 research institutions from 16 European countries participated in the project, each with expertise in the relevant fields (ethology, veterinary medicine, animal production, sociology, etc.) as well as experience in knowledge transfer, training and dialog between society and science. The project partners were mainly recruited from existing networks and previous EU projects(www.welfarequalitynetwork.net,www.aware-welfare.eu). An "Advisory Board" was set up as an advisory body for the pilot project, consisting of representatives of various interest groups (livestock farmers, trade, industry, representatives of authorities, NGOs) from different countries.

Funded by the EU Commission: SANCO 2012/10293 and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)

Publications:

Project management: Dr. Ivemeyer, Silvia; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

Healthy cows are an important prerequisite for successful organic dairy farming, and stress is an important factor that can affect the health, especially the udder health, of dairy cows. Only a cow that is relaxed and calm in the milking parlor and feels comfortable there can give her milk completely and remain healthy in the long term. If the cow is afraid and restless in the milking parlor, this also makes the milking process more difficult for the farmer. As a result of constantly growing herd sizes and increasing economic pressure on dairy farms, contact between humans and animals is often becoming less close. In the milking parlor, first-calving cows in particular become very restless. This is not pleasant for either cow or farmer. The project aims to develop and test a handling method that reduces stress in the milking parlor The animal-related handling is based on the "TTouch" method according to Tellington. The project will be carried out in cooperation with 2-4 practical farms. The behavior (e.g. tripping, lashing out) of the cow concerned during milking and the milk yields are recorded before and after handling and compared with control animals. In addition, the development of udder health is monitored for at least 3 months. The results of the pilot project and the method developed will be published in the agricultural trade press. They are intended to support farmers in their goal of creating a positive milking atmosphere and optimizing the udder health of their dairy herds.
Sponsored by: Naturkost Elkershausen GmbH and Naturkost Erfurt GmbH

Publications:

Project management: Dipl.Biol. M.Sc.Epid Brenninkmeyer, Christine; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

The aim of the European research project
HealthyHens was to identify management strategies
for organic laying hen husbandry that contribute to animal health and welfare. To this end,
extensive data was collected on a total of 114 farms in Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United
Kingdom. The endoparasite Ascaridia galli was found on almost all farms in
all countries, in an average of 68% of hens.
Heterakis worms were slightly less common at 32 %. Only one significant
influencing factor on worm infestation could be identified: the longer the
daily access time to the green run, the lower the infestation with ascaridia.
Pecking damage to plumage and integument was found in an average of 40% and 21%  of chickens respectively. Here too,
farms with better access times to the outdoor run, namely daily access
regardless of weather and other circumstances, were less affected. In addition,
there was less plumage damage with increasing protein content in the feed and
fewer pecking injuries when scratching material
was scattered or replaced during the laying cycle. The proportion of hens in the green run was
higher the smaller the flock and the larger the run area per hen. In addition,
hedges and artificial protection had a positive effect on the proportion
of chickens in the run and the distribution of chickens in the run. Based on the
results, recommendations for organic laying hen farmers could be updated in important points
. An information sheet for practitioners was produced.

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: M.Sc. Döring, Susanne; Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion; Hilmes, Nadja

Project description:

The aim of the project is to describe the effects of small group housing and various forms of aviary housing for laying hens on animal health and behavior, profitability, hygiene status and environmental inputs under the conditions of agricultural practice and to derive management advice that can be made available to practitioners as decision-making aids. The above-mentioned parameters are to be collected once in the last third of the laying period in around 70 barns with small groups or aviary systems throughout Germany. The data collectors involved from the various project partners will receive sufficient training to ensure that data is collected on all farms using identical methods. The development of control mechanisms and management options for the husbandry systems under investigation should serve to derive nationwide recommendations as decision-making aids for the use and operation of small group housing and aviaries.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) via the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dr. Keppler, Christiane; M.Sc. Döring, Susanne; Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion
Project participants: Anderson, Robby

Project description:

Preventing feather pecking
and cannibalism is still a major challenge in alternative laying hen husbandry systems
. The occurrence of the two
behavioral abnormalities is multifactorial
and is influenced by many aspects of housing, with conditions during pullet rearing playing an
important role.

In this module, literature results and practical experience
on rearing pullets and laying hens with regard to feather pecking and cannibalism
are discussed. Recommendations for organic pullet rearing,
which contribute to the prevention of feather pecking and cannibalism during rearing and the
laying phase, are derived from this. Some important measures during the
laying phase are also outlined.

Feather pecking and cannibalism can develop very early in
rearing and feather pecking is
most likely related to misguided
foraging behavior. These are two
important basic pieces of information for the pullet breeder.

Specifically, it is recommended for pullet rearing to provide the birds with manipulable material at all times
to enable them to perform their species-specific foraging and foraging behavior
and to give them access to a sand bath, an outdoor climate area and raised perches. Needs-based feeding,
a regular supply of grain in
the litter, the provision of roughage and sufficient eating and drinking space are also important to prevent
feather pecking and cannibalism. Keeping hens at low stocking densities and
in small groups also reduces
the risk of occurrence. The stress on pullets should be kept as
low as possible. In addition to a good house climate, it is important to ensure that the
hens are cared for and that
the management of the
hens is discussed with the laying hen farmer at an early stage in order to minimize stress during the critical rehousing phase.
Attention must also be paid to the effect
of light on the occurrence of feather pecking and
cannibalism, which is, however, very much dependent on the presence of other factors.

The above recommendations are largely taken into account in the guidelines of the
organic farming associations, which have set guidelines for rearing pullets,
. A few additions to these minimum requirements would nevertheless
be useful. Attention must be paid to the
appropriate implementation on the farms in order to prevent the
development of feather pecking and cannibalism.

Funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Development.

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion; Dr. Pinent, Tamina; Dr. Keppler, Christiane

Project description:

In this project, the influence of a green run on the
health status of organically reared pullets in Switzerland,
Austria and Denmark was investigated in order to derive recommendations for keeping organic
pullets in accordance with the EC Organic Regulation in Germany.

Data from a total of 226 runs from 58 rearing farms with
green runs were recorded and analyzed. Data from 17
organic rearing farms in Germany were available for comparison.

The range of husbandry conditions was wide, both between the countries and in some cases within the countries
. This mainly concerned the
husbandry methods, the size of the outdoor scratching area, the size and structure of the
green run, the timing of access to the various outdoor areas
and the type and intensity of care measures.

On average, the losses per run were between 2.5 % and 3.1
% and thus at the same level as in the German organic rearing
without green runs (3.4 %). Around 80 % of the losses occurred before access to the
outdoor area and here mainly in the first three weeks of life. Predators
were a problem for many farms. Losses due to infection occurred
only in isolated cases at the beginning of the rearing period. The incidences
of antibiotic or antiparasitic treatments were low at 0.02 to 0.05 per
run. The pullet weights achieved were also at
comparable levels, albeit with a greater spread in terms of
uniformity.

Overall, no indications of specific health problems
were found as a result of granting free-range access to pullets. However,
the sometimes wide ranges in the results make it clear that
management requirements may increase as a result of outdoor access. Recommendations are made on
management and the design of the free-range area in accordance with the EC Organic Regulation
, taking into account practical experience in the countries studied
.

In cooperation with: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria; Danish Agricultural Advisory Service DAAS, Denmark; öko-Marketing GmbH, Switzerland

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Irrgang, Nora; Roth, Beatrice

Project description:

In the majority of German dairy farms, calves are routinely dehorned in order to improve the occupational safety of farmers and to avoid horn injuries or injuries caused by horn bumps among the animals. As the procedure can be carried out by the farmer without anaesthetic up to the age of 6 weeks, it is associated with considerable pain and stress for the calves. For farmers who keep horn-bearing cows, there are some practical recommendations on husbandry and management to avoid problems for cows and farmers. However, there is only limited scientific research to back up these recommendations. Furthermore, no clear recommendations can be given for some aspects of husbandry and management. The aim of the project is therefore to provide an overview of the current state of dehorning practice and the possibilities for implementing alternatives to dehorning, as well as to determine the requirements for keeping horned cows in the most animal-friendly way possible. The status quo with regard to dehorning practice in Germany (including timing, methods, medication used) and the keeping of horned cows is recorded in written surveys of farmers and experts from the field. Qualitative information on the background, problems and perspectives of dehorning practice and alternatives to it will be collected in focus group discussions with farmers. Based on existing practical experience and research results, the requirements for keeping horn-bearing cows will be discussed.

Funded by the European Commission (SANCO/2008/D5/018)

In cooperation with: Institut de l'Elevage, France; INRA, France; Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Austria; Università degli Studi di Padova-Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecniche, Italy; ASG, Wageningen UR, Nether-lands; UASVM, Romania; Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Austria; IRTA, Spain

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion; Dr. Keppler, Christiane; M.Sc. Döring, Susanne; Anderson, Robby

Project description:

The aim of the project is to present current recommendations and decision-making aids for pullet rearing under the framework conditions of organic farming. In particular, strategies for the prevention of feather pecking and cannibalism are given special attention.feather pecking and cannibalism are a major problem for the advisory service, as the occurrence of both behavioral disorders is multifactorial, often develops during rearing and there is no universal strategy for prevention.in order to symptomatically limit feather pecking and cannibalism, the beaks of organically reared laying hens are sometimes shortened as a preventive measure. However, this measure should be rejected for animal welfare reasons. In order to be able to dispense with beak trimming in the future, knowledge and recommendations of suitable management measures, rearing and husbandry conditions will be compiled from the literature and expert interviews for this project and compiled as a decision-making aid for breeders, laying hen keepers and advisors.

Supported by: Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences/Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Development.

Project management: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Prof. Dr. Möller, Detlev

Project description:

The management tool developed and optimized in the project comprises
a recording and evaluation scheme
for animal health and laying performance as well as
a structured feedback including benchmarking and advisory support.

It was tested on 11 laying farms and 6 upstream rearing farms
in two laying runs by trained advisors. The costs of its
application and the implementation of advisory recommendations were analyzed by
comparing actual and planned cost performance calculations.

On the laying farms, mainly
sternum changes (10 farms), plumage damage and in some cases
injuries due to feather pecking and cannibalism (4 farms) as well as too
low an animal weight or too little uniformity of the flock were identified
(11 farms). Weaknesses on the farms were primarily found in
process-related, rehousing and feeding management.
Accordingly, an improvement of the process-accompanying
management, increased inspection rounds, the offer of climbing aids in the rehousing phase and
feed analyses with advice were suggested.

The unit costs per egg (excluding marketing) on the
project farms amounted to 15.30 to 24.23 cents, with a strong
cost degression with increasing farm size. Routine use
of the management tool would result in average costs of 1.35 cents/egg (2.81 - 0.59
cents/egg for farms with 1300 or 8000 to 9000 hens). In the case of animal health problems
, costs of 0.00
to 3.50 cents/egg would be added for the modeled improvement measures, taking into account possible increases in performance. A
complete recovery of costs (break-even point) would be achieved on average at 20.45 cents/egg
(26.7 - 18.5 cents/egg).

Farmers and advisors predominantly rated the management tool
as practicable and helpful. With its comprehensive approach
and scientific basis, it offers a new way of transferring the current state of knowledge
in the field of animal health management into practical application.
It appears to be suitable for integration into the QS scheme with regard to animal health
. However, the higher costs per egg that may arise must be compensated
. This is particularly true for small farms.

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project description:

The Summer Academy Organic Animal Breeding and Organic Animal Husbandry is a two-week international course on selected topics of organic animal production, with special reference to the practical challenges of organic farming in Europe. The Summer Academy consists of several days of teaching, visits to organic farms, discussions and a final exam, and aims to promote the transfer and exchange of knowledge on organic farming within Europe and scientific cooperation in this field. The Summer Academy also complements the regular study program at Central and Eastern European universities and thus contributes to improving the education of young agricultural engineers.

Project management: Prof. Dr. habil. Hamm, Ulrich; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Heid, Astrid; Dipl.Biol. M.Sc.Epid Brenninkmeyer, Christine

Project description:

The aim of the project is to analyze the attitudes of consumers, traders and producers towards piglet castration without anesthesia and possible alternatives with regard to their effects on the quality of pork and the purchasing behavior of consumers. Taking into account the views of all stakeholders, the aim is to clarify whether there are prospects for the implementation of alternatives to the castration of piglets without anaesthesia at the private sector level.nine focus group discussions will be held to determine the level of information and consumer attitudes towards piglet castration as well as reactions to various information on castration and possible alternatives. This will be followed by a Vickrey auction to determine the willingness to pay for the various alternatives. At the same time, scientists and representatives of production and trade in six European countries will be interviewed in a multi-stage survey on the status quo and prospects regarding the production, processing and marketing of meat from pigs that have not been castrated without stunning. The results of the investigations will be summarized and discussed in workshops with producers and consultants as well as representatives of processing and trading companies, and recommendations for practical application will be derived from the research results and summarized and published in a final report in a timely manner. The results are important for producers of organic pork, as the decision to ban castration of piglets without anaesthesia (from 2012) means that alternatives need to be implemented quickly. Knowledge of experiences in other EU countries as well as consumer acceptance and willingness to pay in Germany with regard to the various alternatives is important here.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV)

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Döring, Susanne; Vogt Kaute, Werner; Dr. Hörning, Bernhard; Dipl.-Ing. agr. Trei, Gerriet

Project description:

The extremely rapid growth of fattening hybrids used in conventional chicken fattening is a major contributor to a number of common animal health problems. In organic farming, therefore, only slow-growing animals are to be used in accordance with EU organic regulations. To date, however, there has been insufficient information on the health status of different slow-growing breeds on organic farms. The aim of the project was to investigate and evaluate six different fattening strains with different growth intensities under practical conditions with regard to their suitability for organic chicken fattening. For this purpose, the main parameters used were animal health and economic efficiency (e.g. walking ability, plumage and skin condition, exit rates, fattening performance). The six origins were tested on a total of eight farms in two rounds. One provenance was kept on each farm throughout as a reference provenance. The results are intended to provide practitioners with information for the selection of suitable origins.  Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) via the Federal Agency for Food and Agriculture (BLE) as part of the Federal Organic Farming Program

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. habil. Hamm, Ulrich; Heid, Astrid; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Dipl.Biol. M.Sc.Epid Brenninkmeyer, Christine

Project description:

The aim of the project is to analyze the attitudes of consumers, traders and producers towards piglet castration without anesthesia and possible alternatives with regard to their effects on the quality of pork and the purchasing behavior of consumers. Taking into account the views of all stakeholders, recommendations are to be derived as to which alternatives to castration of piglets without anaesthesia can be sensibly implemented in practice in organic pig farming in Germany. In order to determine the level of information and consumer attitudes towards piglet castration as well as reactions to various information on castration and possible alternatives, the Department of Agricultural and Food Marketing will conduct nine focus group discussions. This will be followed by a Vickrey auction to determine the willingness to pay for the various alternatives. At the same time, the Department of Livestock Ethology and Animal Husbandry will conduct a multi-stage survey of scientists and representatives of production and trade in six European countries on the status quo and prospects regarding the production, processing and marketing of meat from pigs castrated without stunning. The results of the studies are summarized and discussed in workshops with producers and consultants as well as representatives of processing and trading companies.

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dr. Schulze Westerath, Heike

Project participants: Kirchner, Marlene; Winckler, Christoph; Tessitore, Elena; Cozzi, Giulio; Dr. Pinent, Tamina

Project description:

In intensive bull fattening, there are a variety of animal welfare concerns regarding current common practices of housing, feeding and management. The aim of this research project was to investigate the suitability and effectiveness of a bull welfare assessment system on fattening farms to provide both easily understandable product information and support for the farmer to improve animal welfare on their own farm. To this end, the attitudes and expectations of bull fatteners with regard to this survey system were examined by means of a survey on a total of 90 farms in Germany, Austria and Italy. On 63 of these farms, three assessments were also carried out using the WelfareQuality® method at intervals of one and approximately six months after the first survey. The farmers were given feedback and information to varying degrees: without feedback of the results (control), feedback of the results of the first assessment or feedback of the results and additional advice. On this basis, the contribution of the assessment system to improving animal welfare was investigated. In addition, the practicability of the survey system and the consistency of the assessment over time were evaluated.

Funded by the European Union, 6th Research Framework Program

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Plesch, Gudrun

Project description:

The primary objective of the 'Food Quality and Safety' Priority is to improve the health and well-being of European citizens through ensuring a higher quality of food. In a 'fork to farm' approach it recognizes that consumer perception of food quality is not only determined by overall nature and safety but also by the welfare status of the animal from which it was produced. Thus, animal welfare is part of an overall 'food quality concept'.Within WELFARE QUALITY, leading European groups with the most appropriate specialist expertise are integrated to build on European research strengths and to realize important societal and policy objectives in this Priority Area. Our research program is designed to develop pan-European standards for on-farm welfare assessment and product information systems as well as practical strategies for improving animal welfare. - Considerable effort is focused on analyzing and addressing perceptions and concerns of principal stakeholders and providing appropriate feedback. Educational and media initiatives, web-based platforms etc will further enhance societal involvement. - Transparency of the product quality chain requires visibility of production processes and an understanding of how they affect welfare; the key is to link husbandry practices to informed animal product consumption. This demands reliable on-farm welfare monitoring systems enabling assessment of welfare status and the standardized conversion of welfare measures into accessible and understandable information, thereby addressing concerns and allowing clear marketing and profiling of products. - Development of innovative, species-specific, practical strategies for improving animal welfare will minimize the occurrence of harmful behavioural and physiological states, improve human-animal relationships, and provide animals with safe and stimulating environments. - Finally, implementation and dissemination of the newly developed welfare mon

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dipl.Biol. M.Sc.Epid Brenninkmeyer, Christine

Project participants: Dippel, Sabine; Winckler, Christoph; Brinkmann, Jan; March, Solveig
 

Project description:

Nowadays, lameness is the third most common cause of abortion in dairy cows in Germany after mastitis and infertility. In addition, lameness as well as damage to the integument (skin and skin appendages) affect the well-being of cows and are therefore also important from an animal welfare perspective. An epidemiological study carried out as part of the EU Welfare-Quality® project in collaboration with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, investigated which factors influence the occurrence of this damage under practical conditions. Particular attention was paid to the husbandry environment (housing facilities) and various management measures such as the provision of grazing and the regularity of hoof trimming.

Funded by the European Union, 6th Research Framework Program.

In cooperation with: Dippel, S. Friedrich Löffler Institute, Celle, Winckler, C. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Brinkmann, J. and March, S. Univ

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dr. Keppler, Christiane

Project participants: Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion; Achhilles, Werner; Weigand, Victoria; Schiffer, Katrin Juliane

Project description:

The most common production methods and management measures as well as performance data of pullet rearing were described as part of a literature review and from experience gained in connection with own research projects. The needs and requirements of pullets were taken into account. In order to collect labor management data, the number and duration of various work processes were recorded on a total of 32 farms (10 conventional floor systems, 6 organic floor systems, 10 conventional aviary systems, 6 organic aviary systems). The data was used to calculate 8 exemplary models for the above-mentioned husbandry methods, each in 2 different house size units. A matrix was developed to record the economics of pullet rearing. In the course of an expert survey, data was collected from 16 farms and 4 models were created for conventional floor housing, organic floor housing, conventional aviary housing and organic aviary housing.

Supported by KTBL Darmstadt

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dipl.-Ing. agr. M.Sc. Staack, Marion

Project participants: Dr. Keppler, Christiane; Günther, Maja; Gruber, Bettina; Niebuhr, Knut; Dipl.-Ing. agr. Zaludik, Katrina

Project description:

Feather pecking and cannibalism still pose a major threat to the welfare of laying hens. For this reason, the influence of various risk factors on the occurrence of feather pecking and cannibalism, especially during the probably important rearing period, needs to be investigated in more detail. The aim of the project is to develop decision support tools to minimize feather pecking and cannibalism in laying hens from alternative rearing systems. A theoretical model of risk factors for feather pecking and cannibalism was developed on the basis of literature reviews and an expert survey. To test this model, 50 data sets were tested using multivariate statistics. One data set each consists of data collected in one rearing flock and two subsequent laying flocks. The data includes plumage, skin condition and losses of the hens, results from interviews with the animal caretakers and parameters collected in the housing system.

The study was funded as part of the Welfare Quality® project: European Union, 6th Research Framework Program and by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture via the Federal Institute for Nutrition (BLE).

In cooperation with: Gruber, B., Niebuhr, K. and Zaludik, K., University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute; Dr. Schulze Westerath, Heike

Project participants: Dipl.-Ing. Hesse, Nina; Laister, Simone; Winckler, Christoph

Project description:

Positive emotions in cattle: Assessment of the well-being of fattening bulls based on their exploratory behavior in a behavioral test:

So far, the assessment of animal welfare has mainly considered those parameters that indicate restricted welfare. Recently, however, there has been increasing interest in indicators that can provide information about the positive side of the scale. The question of the extent to which animals also experience positive emotions plays a central role here. Exploratory behavior plays an important role in how animals find their way around their environment. The usually high motivation for exploration indicates that this is essentially perceived as pleasant. As part of the EU Welfare Quality® project, a way was sought to assess such positive emotions in fattening bulls. The assessment should be carried out during farm monitoring, which suggests that it can be verified in a behavioral test. The aim of the research was to find out whether a behavioral test can provide information about the extent to which fattening bulls have the opportunity and stimulation to perform exploratory behavior on a daily basis.

Funded by: European Union, 6th Research Framework Program.

In collaboration with: Winckler, C. and Laister, S. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Publications:

Project management: Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute

Project participants: Schneider, Claudia; Klocke, Peter

Project description:

The current standards for the dimensioning of loose housing have been designed for cows without horns. In cramped or unfavorably designed stalls, horn-bearing animals can get into fights and be injured by the horns. The project aims to develop better concepts with regard to the dimensioning and design of loose housing and also to collect helpful management measures. To this end, the (social) behavior and injury frequency of horned animals will be observed in an experimental barn if they are offered more space in different areas of the barn than is usual today. Secondly, a survey will be carried out on practical farms. The housing conditions and cows on the farms are assessed and the experiences and problems of the farmers are compiled. In cooperation with: Schneider, C. and Klocke, P. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Switzerland.

Publications: