Future-Focused Poultry Research Draws 2,475 Visitors
On Belgium’s national Day of Agriculture, farms across the north of the country opened their doors to the public. At the Experimental Poultry Centre (EPC), families, students, and professionals followed a curated route through the layer and broiler facilities to see how applied research supports sustainable egg and meat production.
Home to 31,000 laying hens and 42,000 broilers, the Experimental Poultry Centre (EPC) translated science into hands-on demos and clear takeaways. Along the way, visitors explored today’s most pressing topics such as extending laying-hen longevity (Interreg NWE – OMELETTE), emissions reduction, water management and on-farm hatching
Spotlight on Layer Longevity
European and Flemish projects involving EPC took centre stage, with the layer house as a key stop. Why does longevity matter? Extending the productive life of layers—while safeguarding health, welfare, and profitability—is a delicate balancing act. Within the Interreg NWE OMELETTE project, researchers are testing practical levers farmers can use: tailored feeding strategies, dynamic lighting, behavioural enrichment, and breed selection. The goal is simple: healthier birds that thrive longer, with benefits for both sustainability and farm economics.
Partners at Work
The OMELETTE project booth, jointly hosted by partners HATO, PEHESTAT, and EPC, drew steady crowds throughout the day:
- HATO showed how lighting can influence bird behaviour and welfare in real farm settings.
- PEHESTAT highlighted the value of frequent on-farm monitoring to make faster, better-informed decisions.
- EPC shared early camera-based findings on enrichment use and demonstrated welfare and health tracking, including feather scoring.
A Day in the Sun — and in Dialogue
Under sunny skies, EPC welcomed 2,475 visitors—a clear vote of confidence in future-oriented poultry research and open dialogue with the public. By connecting cutting-edge trials to real-world practice, the team underscored how innovation can simultaneously support animal welfare, environmental goals, and farm viability.