Stations of the research workshop:
Biogas production experiment :
Alfred Pöllinger and Stefan Danglmaier (EmiSlAdd project) - Are manure and liquid manure just smelly “agricultural fertilizer” or do they also provide energy? How much energy can I get from manure and liquid manure? Can I also make this visible and tangible? Let the experiments surprise you!
Olfactometry :
Michael Kropsch (WiPraX III project) - Energy can't just mean electricity and heat - "work" is also a form of energy. In the “smell workshop” you can experience how much work and energy it takes to find out whether the animals on the farm smell strongly or not!
Energy use for meat production:
Margit Velik and Roland Kitzer - How do grass and hay get into meat? How much energy does it take to produce one kilo of meat? Is meat “essential” or can you do without it? Who will care for our beautiful landscape? Let our meat tasting surprise you.
At 9:00 a.m. the curious “young students” arrived at the research institute and Renate Mayer/Acquisition Department welcomed them and the coordinator of the Children's Academy Wolfgang Riedl. On the way to Gumpenstein Castle, the children were also greeted by the head of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Dr. Johann Gasteiner, a warm welcome. He encouraged interested students to always ask questions if terms or formulations are incomprehensible and to only form a personal opinion on technical topics after conducting their own detailed research.
First the students made their way to Michael Kropsch’s “smell workshop”. The smell of different stable animals such as pigs and cattle as well as scents of lemon and vanilla were successfully sniffed out. Four inquisitive young students had the opportunity to put their sense of smell to the test during olfactometry (measuring odor intensity). The olfactometry bags were connected to the device and the students tested their sense of smell for low manure concentrations. It turned out that all of the test subjects had an excellent sense of smell. Not a single mistake was made!
After a short break, the curious students made their way to the manure testing facility. The interested young researchers used a pH value measuring device to determine the value of the manure between 6 and 7. They then stirred the manure with a drill. A pump was used to suck the gas from the slurry tanks into olfactometry bags. The students took turns squeezing the gas out of the bags, holding the hose under the Bunsen burner and a large flame was created. This experiment illustrates the energy potential released by the manure and explains in a simple way the function of a mini biogas plant.
At the last stop, all gourmets got their money's worth before lunch. Margit Velik explained to the students the different breeds of cattle and their performance potential (milk, meat). Concentrated feed provides cattle with the most energy. In the stable, the oxen were given cuddles by the young, caring visitors. The slaughter room was then inspected and the slaughter procedure was described. At the end, of course, a tasting of pork and beef (produced in Gumpenstein) could not be missed. After this educational day, the young scientists fortified themselves with a schnitzel and potatoes or the vegetarian alternative, cheese dumplings.