Precision Poultry Farming

44B0785

Bachelor

German, English

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

Poultry makes a significant contribution to food and nutrition security, but also places considerable demands on natural and human resources and has an impact on the environment, public health, the economy and society. These impacts vary from region to region due to different production methods and social structures. To meet these challenges, the poultry industry must focus on improving sustainability and resource efficiency. Precision Poultry Farming (PPF) offers innovative solutions by using automated sensor technologies and digital tools to improve management, nutrition, health, animal welfare, behaviour monitoring and waste management to support more sustainable production practices.

Differences in production practice (conventional vs. organic)

Definition and objectives of Precision Poultry Farming (PPF)
Technologies: sensors, automation, digital tools
Applications: Behaviour monitoring, health management, management optimisation
Integration of animal welfare, environmental protection and economic viability
Research and innovation potential in poultry production

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• oral exam or
• Written examination or
• Oral presentation, with written elaboration or
• Project Report, written

The standard form of examination is the oral examination (alternative form of examination may be chosen by the examiner and then announced at the beginning of the course)

oral exam according to the general part of the examination regulations: 20 - 30 minutes.

The module is held in German or English by agreement. Poultry-related (pre-)modules are certainly an advantage. 

Students will learn to identify and understand the various factors that influence production practices in modern agriculture. These include both internal and external factors such as environmental conditions, technological advances, economic constraints and regulatory frameworks. They will be able to evaluate how these factors shape agricultural practices and animal management strategies.

Students acquire a sound understanding of how PPF technologies can contribute to improving sustainability and efficiency in poultry farming. They learn how modern technologies can optimise resource consumption, increase production output and at the same time promote animal welfare.

Students develop the ability to recognise the complex interactions between different factors influencing poultry production. They analyse how environmental conditions, animal health, technological innovations and economic considerations are interlinked and affect production as a whole.

This learning objective promotes students' critical thinking and encourages them to develop interdisciplinary approaches to solving challenges in poultry farming. They are enabled to find solutions that combine technological, ecological and economic aspects and thus improve the efficiency and sustainability of poultry production.

Students will be introduced to the latest scientific innovations that can revolutionise poultry production. These include advances in animal identification, data collection through sensors and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor and manage animal performance, health and welfare more precisely.

Students learn to communicate the various technologies and innovations in poultry farming clearly and precisely. They develop the ability to explain complex technical concepts for animal identification and sensor-based data collection in an understandable way and to convey this information to different target groups such as farmers, researchers, technicians and decision-makers.

Students develop a scientific self-image by learning to critically scrutinise scientific methods and assess the quality of research results in poultry farming. They are able to assess the validity and relevance of scientific studies and reflect on their possible applications in practice, particularly with regard to new technologies such as PPF systems.

• Tiemann, Inga

Sonja Hillemacher; Josefine Stuff