50 Years Layer Breeding and Veterinary Laboratory – large attendance at Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH‘s 47th Franchise Hatchery Meeting. 09.12.09 After being welcomed by Dr. Finck and a short welcoming speech by -Dirk Wesjohann, EW Group, Prof. Flock commenced the technical programme with his presentation “50 Years of Layer Breeding – a Review“. Prof. Flock pointed out the milestones of Lohmann Tierzucht. Without these main research which lead to feather-sexable LSL for example, the introduction of competitive brown-egg layers as well as the patent to select against fishy odour in eggs which result from the TMA Syndrome, Lohmann Tierzucht could not have achieved it’s significance as it does today in the international markets as one of the main leaders.

The current situation and prospects for the future of layer breeding was illustrated by Prof. Preisinger. Based on changing conditions such as the intensely increasing population in developing countries and the gaining importance in animal welfare in industrialised countries, the strategy is to increase profitability by editing and improving key breeding traits. These include laying performance, shell stability as well as genomic selection for gene defects. As perspectives, Prof. Preisinger named realistic selection goals such as the continuous improvement of in each generation in terms of:

  • persistence in laying rate and egg quality,
  • feed efficiency,
  • animal health,
  • animal behaviour (animal welfare / adaptability to housing systems).


The last presentation of the first day of the event transported the audience into the world of sports. Martin Kind, President of the football club Hannover 96, explained how a club of the Third League with a difficult financial situation flourished into a a booming company. A success factor is restructuring the club into a KgaA, a joint-stock company. The simple decision of restructuring into a company and the successful search of sponsors lead Hanover 96 into being in the First League and permitted the buying and rebuilding of the Lower Saxony Stadium, the present AWD-Arena.

The next day started with a special practically-orientated speech about feeding strategies of layers by Robert Pottgüter. The goal is to have optimal and cost-effective nutrition based on individual needs – which is the primary challenge of every animal nutritionists. This can closely meet the nutrition needs of the hens, support stable digestion which is the basis for clean eggs and dry litter, reduces the emission of nitrogen from animal husbandry and can – when competently used – lead to a reduction in feeding costs. This includes, as a matter of course, the best hygienic quality of feed. Feed was and is not the primary source of entry for Salmonella in poultry husbandry, if the raw material is clean and hygiene is strictly observed during treatment.

The culling of male chicks in layer lines is an important topic for animal welfare which is why intensive research in gender determination in eggs is currently being carried out. PD Dr. Thomas Bartels, Universität Leipzig, presented latest results to this topic. Many possible procedures are more theoretical in nature and therefore, inappropriate for hatcheries from a financial and technical point of view. What’s best is that, after more examinations, spectroscopic gender determining provides a perspective on how to solve the problem.

The practical reports of the customers impressively attested that Lohmann products with their excellent performances assert themselves in markets all over the world. In this session Gennady V. Kotchnev, Russia, Hussein Bahri, Saudi-Arabia, Musa Freiji, Egypt, Shuji Watanabe, Japan, and Rafael Serrano U., Colombia, reported their experiences and the success they have all been having with Lohmann layers.

The main topic of the following two presentations was marketing. Christian Endres, Endres-Ei GmbH, presented his marketing activities with which he successfully practices his direct marketing. The most important aspect to support this niche is the categorical differentiation to discount supermarkets. Sales promotion is done by enticing shelves in the supermarkets, various activities at the point of sale (POS) and at the farm. In addition, Endres conducts active public relations and does his best to also have political support for his business. The radio commercial he presented about Endres eggs brought a smile to the audience’s faces and demonstrated how effective the media is in helping to sell the products. None the least, the enterprising character of this direct marketer is of extreme importance.

Jan van Esch, Kwetters Eieren, from The Netherlands , sells about 1.3 billion eggs all over Europe. The main factors of this successful activity for Kwetters are “don´t sell with marked-down prices – sometimes you have to say no“. In addition, you have to have the best quality in the range. The criterion of quality is also to conveyed to egg farmers. After all, the success of Kwetters determines the success of its suppliers, too.

The last presentation of the meeting dealt with the necessary factors for success of medium-sized companies. Along with Patrick Ulrich, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Becker, both from the Universität Bamberg, presented selected results of their research. It is necessary to actively use the advantages of specialisation, flexibility, mobility and the innovative energy, in medium-sized companies. This includes realising co-operations, networks and standardisation (especially the processes of the same) in order to handle the increasing complexity. An important aspect to preserve liquidity is by opening new forms of funding. Decisive for long term viability of the frequently family-owned companies is to settle the issue of succession early enough and consider possible non-family successors as well.

At the end of the three-day meeting, the participants were treated to a visit to the Expert Centre for Poultry in Kitzingen. Dr. Klaus Damme described the research foci of the Expert Centre to the visitors.

In addition to the informative speeches held, the venue Würzburg – the metropolis of Franconian Wine Country, had a lot to offer to our guests. Several partners of the technically-oriented guests took part in the social programme in Würzburg.

After the presentations on the first day of the meeting, all participants took part in wine-tasting held in the cellar of the former “Fürstbischöflicher Hofkeller“, illuminated only by candles. The foreign visitors were especially impressed by the architecture of the Hofkeller, a World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

The highlight of the social programme took place on the second evening, a four-hour cruise on the River Main. On board, the guests had dinner with Franconian wine and chatted about the presentations and exchanged experiences.

At the end of the meeting, after visiting the Expert Centre, a sightseeing tour by foot was made in the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

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