Top performance are no coincidence

In 1978, at the age of 12, I took over the sole care of my father's pigeons for six months.
They were Tümmler, or to be more precise, Altstämmer - a petite, short-billed breed that could only be reared with nurse pigeons.
I checked the nests three times a day - before school, at lunchtime and in the evening - and raised so many healthy young that one of my young was awarded the top mark of "Excellent" at the national exhibition in Frankfurt.
At the time, I didn't realise how valuable this experience would be. But it laid the foundation for my passion and understanding of care, discipline and breeding.
In the same year, I got my first own pedigree pigeons - Elbinger Weißköpfe, also short-beaked Tümmler. Their distinctive heads and lively temperament fascinated me and awakened my enthusiasm for breeding beautiful and vital pigeons.

I came into contact with racing pigeon breeders at an early age through my father's pigeon farm. I was immediately fascinated by the orientation and performance of these birds.
I started releasing my father's few carrier pigeons, which he used as nurse pigeons, at short distances - only to see them return unerringly. One day he asked me: "Alfred, would you like to breed racing pigeons?" - and the path was set.
In 1981 I moved into my first own loft and got my first racing pigeons. My first flights were a mixture of euphoria and disillusionment. Some pigeons returned quickly, others did not. These early experiences taught me that patience, observation and consistency are just as important as the quality of the animals.

In the years that followed, I learnt from experienced breeders such as Horst Röhl and the Winkler & Kuhn breeding group. They showed me how important consistent management, targeted feeding and precise preparation are for success.

My first big success came in 1983: I won first prize with a Rotscheck pigeon on the third old pigeon flight from Regensburg over 266 kilometres - and also the third conceded race. But the years that followed were mainly years of learning, in which I learnt more about losses, mistakes and misjudgements than about victories.

This time was formative: I realised that in pigeon racing it's not just the best pigeons that count, but the interplay between keeping, training, health and motivation - a principle that has stayed with me to this day.

In 1984, I moved with my pigeons from the "Erlenbruch" poultry farm to my own loft at my parents' house. My father's old loft above the double garage was extended, modernised and equipped with new entrances and exits. More space and the pigeons at the house meant better conditions - for me and my pigeons.

I took the opportunity to optimise the housing: more light, better ventilation, technical aids for an optimised loft climate. My father reduced his racing pigeon breeding during this time and increasingly supported me with racing pigeon breeding.

These years were a mixture of construction work and consistent further development. Every flight, every breeding period brought new insights. The foundation was laid for what was to follow later in Düsseldorf: the combination of practical breeding work with a scientific approach.

After studying biology at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt - specialising in performance physiology - I was able to combine theory and practice for the first time. After my diploma thesis, I investigated the metabolism of racing pigeons as a function of flight time and diet as part of my doctorate.

In 1997, I started at Muskator-Werke in Düsseldorf as a line manager for pigeon and bird feed under the OVATOR brand.
There, I not only implemented existing concepts, but also developed my own ideas: new feed mixtures, innovative feed supplements and - a key moment for me - setting up my own trial and reference farm on the factory premises.

This loft was my laboratory under real conditions. Here I was able to test, adapt and perfect new formulations on my own pigeons. The results not only convinced me, but also numerous top breeders who successfully used the products in their lofts.

In 2004, I joined the management of Dr Hesse Tierpharma GmbH & Co. KG, known worldwide under the brand name Röhnfried.
This step not only meant a move to Schleswig-Holstein, but also a new dimension to my professional work: international product development, strategic company management and global marketing.

Under my responsibility, products such as Avidress Plus, Carni-Speed or UsneGano - are now a permanent fixture on many farms worldwide. It was particularly important to me to develop complete feeding and care concepts that provide guidance for breeders all year round.

One milestone was the stronger international focus of the brand: I was able to visit fanciers in many countries, familiarise myself with their working methods and at the same time contribute new ideas. Despite different cultures and approaches, we have one thing in common: looking up to the same sky when our pigeons come home.

Parallel to my professional work, I have always actively participated in competitions myself - often with outstanding results.
Its greatest successes include:

• National young animal association championship 2021
• Multiple rankings among the top 10 nationally
• Olympic birds that have represented Germany internationally
  For me, these successes are not just sporting milestones, but also proof that my concepts and products work under real conditions.

After decades in leading positions, the move to BergerPIGEONS was for me a return to my roots - and at the same time a leap forward.
Here I can directly contribute all my experience, knowledge and passion to offer growers worldwide tried and tested solutions.

My aim is to develop products that are transparent, effective and easy to use - and thus make pigeons and breeders more successful together.
Because in the end, it's not just the victory that counts for me, but the certainty of having done the best for the well-being and performance of the pigeons.