Dr Gurubaran Raveendran researches welfare lighting in poultry houses for Big Dutchman. For his work, the contractor employed by Big Dutchman’s Business Development division has now been awarded a prize by the Center of Sustainability Transformation in Areas of Intensive Agriculture (trafo:agrar) in Lower Saxony. Congratulations from Big Dutchman!
Turkeys like it warm – then cold
Award for Dr. Gurubaran Raveendran: lighting meets bird welfare
Livestock housing illumination is a science in itself. Big Dutchman therefore emphasises proven expertise: Together with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hanover and the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health in Celle, the poultry equipment supplier supported Gurubaran Raveendran in his doctoral thesis, which examined welfare-friendly lighting solutions.
30-year-old Raveendran analysed how turkeys react to different lighting situations by monitoring flocks with cameras and evaluating data using artificial intelligence. “The amounts of data were enormous”, says Raveendran.
For his work, Raveendran has now been awarded 1st prize at the 2025 young talent award “trafo:nachwuchspreis”. The awards ceremony recently took place in Brunswick in Lower Saxony. The competition’s patron was Miriam Staudte, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Sven Guericke, Chairman of the Board of Management of the agri-food forum “AEF Nord-West”, gave the laudatory speech.
Raveendran says: “Previously, lighting in poultry houses was controlled by a time clock. We are aiming at being able to react immediately to what happens in the house and to adjust the lighting as required based on data from sensors. The idea is that we take into account the birds’ needs to promote their welfare.”
Raveendran’s goal is to use sound sensors instead of cameras to monitor flocks. “If we can control the light simply by listening to the sounds in the house, we have made a big step forwards. Because this will require much less data.”
Dr Gurubaran Raveendran presenting his research results. 
Sven Guericke giving the laudatory speech. 
The winners of the young talent award with the presenters, who were also part of the 16-member independent expert jury. The awards ceremony took place at the Thünen Institute in Brunswick. The jury consisted of independent experts.
