Here you find a brief overview of the Zentralverband der Deutschen Geflügelwirtschaft e.V. (ZDG) and its member associations.

Zentralverband der Deutschen Geflügelwirtschaft e.V.

Founded: April 1967
Number of members: approx. 8000
President: Gerhard Wagner
Vice-President: PD Dr. Bernd Diekmann
Vice-Presidentt: Klemens Heitmann
Vice-President: Wilhelm Hoffrogge
Vice-President: Bernd Kalvelage
Vice-President: Rainer Wendt
Managing Director: Dr. Thomas Janning

Claire-Waldoff-Str. 7
10117 Berlin
Tel. 030/28883140
Fax 030/28883150
E-Mail: info@zdg-online.de

Members and organisation
The approx. 8,000 members are organised under:

• Bundesverband bäuerlicher Hähnchenerzeuger e.V.
• Bundesverband Deutsches Ei e.V.
• Bundesverband der Geflügelschlachtereien e.V.
• Verband Deutscher Putenerzeuger e.V.
• 13 regional associations

Areas of competence:

• Keeping laying hens
• Poultry fattening
• Poultry slaughterers
• Turkey production

Official mouthpiece:
Trade journal: DGS – Die Geflügelwirtschaft und Schweineproduktion
www.dgs-magazin.de

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Bundesverband bäuerlicher Hähnchenerzeuger e.V.

Founded: May 1962

Number of members: approx. 1,000

Degree of organisation of the relevant enterprises: 95%

President: Rainer Wendt

Vice-President: Heiner Esters

Managing Director: Dr. Thomas Janning

Honorary President: Cord H. zum Felde

Claire-Waldoff-Str. 7
10117 Berlin
Tel.  030/28 88 31 10
Fax  030/28 88 31 50
E-Mail: bvh@zdg-online.de

Chicken keeping

• In Germany chickens are reared either with short-term fattening for sale as whole birds, or with long-term fattening for sale as chicken pieces.
• All chickens are reared in chicken houses.
• Already before the adoption of the Fourth Amendment to the Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry Act (TierSchNutztV) the German chicken industry reached agreement on voluntary parameters for chicken fattening in consultation with regional administrations and animal welfare organisations and has adhered to these guidelines since 1999. With the new Chicken Rearing Act of 12 June 2009, Germany has become the first EU member state to implement in its national code of law the legally binding regulations governing the rearing of broilers. In this regard, the BVH is involved with the drafting of the uniform national guidelines for good and appropriate practises. 

Poultry meat/chicken meat consumption*
Consumption of poultry meat in Germany 2008: 1,544,300 tons

Consumption of chicken meat in Germany 2008: 962,600 tons

Per capita consumption of poultry meat in Germany 2008: 18.8 kg

Per capita consumption of chicken meat in Germany 2008: 11.7 kg

Poultry meat/chicken meat production*
German poultry meat production 2008: 1,341,300 tons 

German chicken meat production 2008: 912,200 tons 

* Source: Zentrale Markt- und Preisberichtberichtstelle GmbH (central market and price reporting agency, ZMP)

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Der Bundesverband der Geflügelschlachtereien e.V.

Founded: June 1962

Number of members: 60 

degree of organisation of the relevant enterprises: 95%

President: Gerhard Wagner

Vice-President: Bernd Kalvelage

Managing Director: Dr. Thomas Janning

Claire-Waldoff-Str. 7
10117 Berlin
Tel. 030/28 88 31 10
Fax 030/28 88 31 50
E-Mail: bvg@zdg-online.de

Poultry meat production

• The legislator regulates the transport and slaughter of animals in detail. In accordance with the relevant regulations, the animals are to be handled in such a manner that avoidable stress, pain, suffering or injury are not caused at any step in the process.
• In addition, hauliers and slaughterers are required to submit proof of their expertise to the relevant authorities. 
• The German poultry industry in particular distinguishes itself by the short transport distances from the farm to the slaughterhouse. 
• The state veterinarian conducts an inspection of the production facility before the slaughter.
• The German animal welfare and slaughter act (“Tierschutzschlachtverordnung“) stipulates specific measures for anaesthesia and slaughtering of poultry and thereby ensures responsible handling of animals.

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Bundesverband Deutsches Ei e.V.

Founded: 2001

Chairman: Dr. Bernd Diekmann

Deputy-Chairman: Hans-Thomas Freiherr von Meerheimb

Managing Director: Dr. Thomas Janning

Claire-Waldoff-Str. 7
10117 Berlin
Tel. 030/28 88 31 10
Fax 030/28 88 31 50
E-Mail: bde@zdg-online.de

Egg production
BWhen it comes to keeping laying hens, there are numerous aspects of animal welfare, its behaviour, the environment , animal husbandry and cost effectiveness, which need to be taken into account and which have a complex interrelationship.

These include:

• Optimal provision of feed and water 
• A good chicken house environment 
• Daily checking of the laying hens
• Veterinary care as well as regular cleaning of the hen house

In Germany eggs are produced by one of four production methods:

• Rearing in henhouses with floor-pens
• Free-range rearing
• Rearing in small groups
• Ecological production

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Verband Deutscher Putenerzeuger e.V.

Founded: June 1970

Chairman: Thomas Storck
Vice-Chairman: Norbert Engels
Managing Director: Dr. Thomas Janning

Claire-Waldoff-Str. 7
10117 Berlin
Tel. 030/28 88 31 10
Fax 030/28 88 31 50
E-Mail: vdp@zdg-online.de

Turkey rearing

• Number of animals reared in Germany 2008: approx. 30 million, all kept in houses with floor-pens
• Turkey rearing in Germany is done in accordance with the uniform national benchmarks which were developed already in 1999 under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with the regional governments, animal welfare bodies and the turkey industry. This benchmark agreement sets out a detailed and high standard of animal protection in the turkey industry.

Poultry meat-/turkey meat consumption*
Consumption of poultry meat in Germany 2008: 1,544,300 tons

Consumption of turkey meat in Germany 2008: 468,000 tons

Per capita consumption of poultry meat in Germany 2008: 18.8 kg

Per capita consumption of turkey meat in Germany 2008: 5.7 kg 

Poultry meat-/turkey meat production*
German poultry meat production 2008: 1,341,300 tons

German turkey meat production 2008: 357,300 tons

* Source: Zentrale Markt- und Preisberichtberichtstelle GmbH (central market and price reporting agency, ZMP)

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