Austria – an interesting egg market

Austria is a particular location for egg producers and marketers. Since decades, the Alpine republic is an important market for LOHMANN TIERZUCHT, too. The German breeding company has successful franchise hatcheries on site: Schropper GmbH and Geflügel GmbH.


Austria has a population of about 8.4 mil. people, of which 1.7 million live in the capital Vienna – considered as the gateway to the East. In contrast to the development in Germany, the Austrian population has continuously grown during the last ten years. Also concerning the annual per capita consumption of eggs, the Austrians are with 240 eggs clearly above the EU average. However, the degree of self-sufficiency on eggs is decreasing and has meanwhile fallen below 70 percent. According to the official layer statistics, in March 2010, about 5 million layers were in production in Austria. 66 percent were kept in barn systems (mostly aviary systems), 20 percent in free range husbandry, 9 percent in organic egg production and transitionally a neglecting number still in small group systems.

Since 1st of January 2009, according to the national animal husbandry regulation a complete ban on cages is in place. Egg producers, marketers and labelling organisations such as “animal welfare tested”, “KAT Austria” and “AMA-Fresh-Egg” lable, have agreed on this.


Supplier since decades

LOHMANN TIERZUCHT is supplying its breeding products to Austria since decades. On site, the company is represented by the long-term franchise hatchery Schropper

GmbH in Schottwien-Aue. And since seven years, also the Geflügel GmbH in Schlierbach (Upper Austria) is annually supplied with three LOHMANN BROWN parent flocks from Cuxhaven.

Austria has proven that with the right choice of pedigree and good flock management husbandry in cages can be abandoned. Despite management mainly in barn or aviary systems, LOHMANN hens are behaving calmly and non-aggressive – even without beak trimming. This awareness is now getting around also in other EU member countries and has lead to discussions in different countries about a national ban on beak trimming.

One should admit that Austria has a peculiarity with regard to layer nutrition: Due to existing national calcium and phosphorus sources providing a remarkably high content of magnesium, this mineral with a sedative (calming) effect finds its way into the feed mixtures. That might be one of the major reasons why in Austria egg production in alternative systems is so successful even without beak trimming.





Franchise hatchery with top equipment

For more than 30 years, the Schropper family is franchising LOHMANN breeding products at their beautiful headquarter in Aue. After decades of keeping LOHMANN BROWN (now CLASSIC and EXTRA) and LSL parent stocks in group cage systems, the conversion to aviary systems of parent stock in rear as well as in production was carried out until the end of 2009. In the past years, two contract farmers for hatching egg supply were added, so that today annually 80.000 parent chicks are housed.

Thus, the major part of the Austrian demand for layer chicks can be covered as well as a partial demand of the neighbour countries such as Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. In 2010, the modern hatchery has once more been expanded and can now produce nearly 9million female chicks per year. Schropper also coordinates a considerable part of the pullet production. The company is ISO certified, operates according to high quality standards and ensures impeccable hygiene. For exports, transport vehicles with a capacity of up to 100,000 chicks are available. Due to the favourable geographic location, the export share is continuously growing.

Leading role in organic eggs

After several years of effort, in 2004 LOHMANN TIERZUCHT and the responsibles of Geflügel GmbH in Schlierbach have agreed to cooperate in the fields of parent stock supply and customer service. Today, Manfred Söllradl heads the Geflügel GmbH as Managing Director and main shareholder. Over the years, the company’s strong involvement in organic egg production and marketing in Austria has paid off. It has become the basis for keeping parent stock at co-shareholders and a few years ago, for the own investment in a new built hatchery. Meanwhile, nearly 1,4 million layer chicks are hatched per year. Also in this case, LOHMANN BROWN products (CLASSIC and EXTRA) are highly appreciated due to their calm behaviour, the good nest acceptance, the outstanding shell quality and the high performance even under organic Management and diet conditions.