This soy-free diet will be fed to broiler chickens and pigs. The impact on business profitability and the environment is assessed.Relevance/ValorizationBased on the project's results, the added value of European protein sources will be discussed in workshops with pig and poultry farmers.
Soy free chicken and pig production
ILVO went looking for another type of chicken
Main research questionWithin the European CORE Organic project Freebirds, ILVO and the University of Utrecht study the ranging behavior of individual hens and relate that to their welfare and production. Research approachTwo experiments took place at ILVO.
Optimizing the use of the free range as the key to improve organic chicken production
Main research questionThe goal of KIPVANG is to catch and load meat chickens and spent laying hens for transport to the slaughterhouse in a more animal-friendly way. The project develops training courses for this purpose and also provides them to the people who perform this task in the poultry sector.
Main research questionTo the benefit of the poultry industry, the WISH project develops innovative solutions to improve both the productivity and welfare of broiler chickens.
The aim is then to use this data to give feedback and advice on best practices to those responsible for the chicken and pigs throughout their lifetime (farmer, catching team, transporter, slaughterhouse).
Main research questionThe CHICKENSTRESS research project aims to improve the welfare of free-range laying hens by reducing the incidence of feather-pecking, reducing their stress and fearfulness, and improving their range use.
Main research questionThis research study, requested by the Flemish government, evaluated the most appropriate methods to kill weak or ill chickens and turkeys. The euthanasia has to be performed humanely to prevent unnecessary suffering of terminally ill or weak animals, according to the European Council Regulation 1099/2009.
In Europe and Flanders, the focus is also on circular cultivation, where residual or by-product streams from the agri-food industry are used as raw materials: surplus CO2 from the fermenter or nutrient-rich residual water from the food industry are just a few examples.
The trees provide extra profit in the form of wood, nuts, or fruit, and provide shelter for the grazing livestock against the wind and weather and against predators (e.g. chickens).However, the trees can also be used as an additional source of food for the animals, who can feed on the leaves, which often contain important minerals and trace elements