June 18, 2010
Dutch Rondeel layer house begins first production
The first Rondeel layer house has been opened last April in Barneveld, Netherlands with the first 30,000 Lohmann brown birds having already started laying.
The Rondeel facility is an alternative circle-shaped aviary house with a partly covered free-range area.
The Rondeel concept is the result of a government project that was launched in 2003. The idea was to find new ways of housing in order to respond to changing demands of consumers. Animal welfare was, in particular, a major issue. Various public parties were involved including animal welfare groups. Also, Vencomatic participated and eventually the Rondeel concept was born in 2008.
The first results look promising. The birds seem to produce according to Lohmann standards. They are kept in five compartments of 6,000 layers each. In one compartment feed is distributed and eggs are collected from the Bolegg system. These are packed in special boxes that are made of coconut fibre and that contain seven eggs each. Dutch retailer Albert Heijn buys eggs directly from the farm.
