Could you briefly introduce yourself and your farm?
My name is Frida Ottersten, and I run the broiler farm Lunnebergs Lantbruk in Västergötland, Sweden together with my brothers. My parents started the business from scratch, and in 1995 they built up the broiler production. Today we have a total of 14,000 square meters of broiler houses and rear around 300,000 chickens per cycle. In addition to broiler production, we also produce grain.
What challenges did you face on your farm, and why was it important to solve it?
The main challenge was to minimize stress and injuries during loading, particularly wing injuries. Since the loading process on our farm is mechanized, it was important to improve it both for animal welfare and to protect the time and resources invested in rearing the chickens. Loading is a critical moment—both from an animal welfare perspective and from an economic and resource-efficiency standpoint—so finding a solution was essential.
Which Good Practice did you use to address this challenge?
To minimize stress and injuries before and during loading, we prepare the barn carefully. We darken the windows, use an airlock to prevent excess light from the doors, and place bedding over the thresholds to make the passage of the truck smoother. We also raise the water and feed lines after dimming the lights, ensuring that everything is done when the barn is at its calmest. Before loading starts, I move the birds from the door myself, so that they meet someone they are familiar with, which helps keep the process calmer.
In addition to creating a calm environment for the animals, it is very important to give the loading staff the best possible conditions. They need access to showers, a place to sit and eat, and clear information about the layout of the houses and how the work should be carried out. Loading is a team effort, so everyone involved needs the right knowledge, the same conditions, and proper follow-up if anything goes wrong.
What changed on your farm after implementing this Good Practice?
The loading process is now much calmer, and the number of wing damage and other transport related injuries has decreased significantly.
What advice would you give other broiler farmers to minimize stress and injuries during loading?
Take your time with the preparations and make sure everything is done calmly. Involve everyone in the chain. It is crucial that everyone helps and supports one another.
What is the most important lesson you learned from this experience?
The most important lesson is that all the effort you put in really makes a difference. It is also essential that the entire chain cooperates and communicates. When everyone does their best, things improve – both for the animals and for the whole team.