Poultry farmers‘ preferences and use of poultry beddings in Austria and Germany

This study analyzes the preferences of Austrian and German poultry farmers towards several bedding types. Using a web-based analytic hierarchy process survey (AHP) as market research instrument with the five assessment criteria – water holding capacity, drying rate, ammonia content in air, workload and price – we received responses from 281 poultry farmers. The results indicate that chopped straw is used the most, follo- wed by wood shavings and straw granulate/pellets. In contrast, according to the AHP, straw granulate/pellets are the most preferred bedding. The assessment criteria water holding capacity and drying rate explain the highest preference contribution towards straw granulate/pellets.