Poultry farmers complain: "I have a check in the barn every week"
Berlin, July 24, 2018. Are German livestock populations checked too seldom? This is suggested by various media reports in recent days with headlines such as "An inspection every 48 years". The ZDG Central Association of the German Poultry Industry e. V. with determination. "Official controls are part of the normal everyday work for every poultry farmer. Without exception, every passage in the barn is checked by an official veterinarian - this is unique in livestock husbandry in Germany," explains ZDG President Friedrich-Otto Ripke. In turkey husbandry, there are around three to four official controls per year as part of this "live animal inspection", and around seven to eight in broiler husbandry. In plain language, this means: At least every five weeks or every three months there is an official veterinarian for official inspections in the poultry house - and not just every 48 years.
"Our own controls ensure the good German system of poultry farming"
The current reports also give the wrong impression that the state alone can guarantee reliable control of animal protection and animal welfare in livestock farming. "That completely ignores the reality in our stables," says Friedrich-Otto Ripke. As good and important as there is no doubt that government controls are, the continuous, close-meshed internal controls by the livestock owner themselves, the veterinarian in charge of the herd, the consultant of the marketer and business-supported quality assurance systems are also sensible and indispensable. Ripke: "Our strong internal controls ensure the good German system of poultry farming."
Chicken farmer Rainer Wendt: "I have visitors in the barn every week"
Rainer Wendt, ZDG Vice-President and Chairman of the Federal Association of Farmer Chicken Producers, shows just how high the inspection density is in German poultry farming. V. (BVH), as an example for chicken husbandry. "I have at least one inspection visit to the barn every week," says Wendt, who keeps around 125.000 chickens in three barns in Lower Saxony. Specifically, it looks like this for his company:
- Official veterinarian – at least two checks per round: Twice during each round the district veterinarian comes to the stall for the obligatory live animal inspection before moving them out – once on the approx. 25th day. The official veterinarian can also visit the barn unannounced at any time.
- Stock veterinarian – at least two checks per round: The stock veterinarian also checks the health of the animals in the barn at least twice during each round – on the 10th day before the animals are vaccinated, then again around the 25th day before the catch. In addition, the veterinarian can come to the barn at any time at the poultry farmer's request if there are any abnormalities in the stock.
- Marketer's advisor – at least two checks per run: Also at least twice during each round, the poultry marketer's trained advisors are in the herd and check the condition and well-being of the flock.
- QS system – at least one check every two years: The QS system audit takes place every two years, as well as unannounced spot audits if necessary (50 percent of the companies per year). The QS controls are fundamentally risk-oriented, which means: If a company has become conspicuous, it can expect more frequent controls, annually or even every six months.
- Animal welfare initiative – at least two checks per year: If a company takes part in the Animal Welfare Poultry Initiative (ITW), independent inspectors come to the barn at least twice a year on behalf of the ITW – for the major ITW audit and for the unannounced “stock check” with a focus on criteria relevant to animal welfare.
About the ZDG
The Central Association of German Poultry Industry Association represents as a trade roof and top organization, the interests of the German poultry industry at national and EU level towards political, official and professional organizations, the public and abroad. The approximately 8.000 members are organized in federal and state associations.
