On July 27, the Third Cage-Free Layer Hen Development Forum concluded successfully in Zhucheng. The forum was co-hosted by Zhucheng Zhongyu Electromechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. (Kaleter), the poultry industry group Aiqinshe, and the Shanghai Poultry and Egg Association. Held at the Yangchun International Hotel, it brought together more than 150 industry leaders, farmers, equipment company representatives, and experts to discuss industry trends and the future of the sector.
Expert Speakers
The forum's expert session covered a wide range of ground. Feng Nan, secretary general of the Layer Hen Branch of the Shandong Animal Husbandry Association, and Zhou Qihu, president of the Weifang Animal Husbandry Association, both spoke on the direction of the cage-free transition in Shandong province. Other speakers addressed the technical side of converting from caged to cage-free housing, market channels for cage-free eggs, lighting design for cage-free poultry houses, parasite prevention, animal welfare certification, precision nutrition, biosecurity, e-commerce marketing, and brand building, drawing on the experience of universities, industry associations, and farms already running cage-free operations.
Pang Gerong, sales director of Kaleter's egg and poultry division, presented Kaleter's standard cage-free rearing models, covering both single-tier floor housing and multi-tier aviary systems.
The forum also welcomed two international speakers. Peter Evertz of the Netherlands' Hotraco Agri introduced the company's environmental control equipment and shared perspective from the mature Dutch cage-free egg industry. IDO, Kaleter's global marketing consultant and a senior poultry equipment expert in the EU, spoke about the company's partnership with Kaleter and how it has supported the development of Kaleter's cage-free equipment.
Signing Ceremony
During the forum, Kaleter signed an agreement with Hotraco Agri for a cage-free environmental control system project. The two companies plan deeper cooperation around the system going forward.
Thank-You Dinner
After the forum's presentations wrapped up, Kaleter hosted a thank-you dinner for attendees. Guests and industry colleagues gathered to discuss industry trends, exchange farming techniques, and talk through opportunities for future cooperation.
Site Visit and Factory Tour
The next day, Kaleter organized a site visit for forum attendees. The group first visited a local historic site, then toured Kaleter's own factory. Guests saw the company's cage-free equipment research, development, and production firsthand, and the visit gave attendees and the Kaleter team a relaxed setting to keep discussing industry technology and development opportunities.
The Third Cage-Free Layer Hen Development Forum has now come to a close. Thank you to every expert, guest, and attendee who took part and lent support. Kaleter will keep working in the cage-free layer hen field, and looks forward to working alongside industry colleagues to help the sector grow in a more standardized, regulated, and higher-quality direction.