creators_name:  Hospers-Brands, A.J.T.M.
creators_name: Bremer, E.G.H.
creators_name: Lammerts van Bueren, E.T.
type: report
datestamp: 2007-01-22
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:35:34
metadata_visibility: show
title: The prevention of potato volunteers in organic farming systems by using pigs.
ispublished: unpub
subjects: 1plantprod
subjects: rootcrops
subjects: 7pigs
full_text_status: public
keywords: Potato volunteers; Pigs; Organic farming
abstract: In organic agriculture potato volunteers, presenting an important primary inoculum source for late Blight (Phytophthora infestans), are controlled by mechanical meth-ods. These may be partly replaced by ‘foraging’ livestock animals, such as cattle, sheep, horses, ponies or pigs. Most animals eat only the remaining potatoes on the field surface; however, pigs also dig up potatoes. This paper reports on two experi-ments with pigs (sows or finishing pigs), which appear to be very effective in digging up potatoes that are left in the field after the potato harvest within a reasonable time period. However, the workload for the farmer, problems with animal health and meat quality and possible damage to the soil structure seriously limit the applicability of pigs for the control of potato volunteers. Aspects of animal health, animal nutrition and environmental aspects (nutrient excretion) are discussed.
date: 2006
date_type: published
institution: Louis Bolk Institute
department: Department Soil and Plant
refereed: never
referencetext: •	Edwards, S. A. and Livingstone, R. M. (1990). The use of potatoes and potato products in swine rations. In Non-traditional feed sources for use in swine produc-tion, (P A Thacker and R N Kirkwood, eds) Butterworths, pp. 305-314.
•	Eriksen, J. & K. Kristensen (2001) Nutrient excretion by outdoor pigs: a case study of distribution, utilisation and potential for environmental impact. Soil Use and Management 17, 21-29.
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•	Sundrum, A., Bütfering, L., Henning, M., Hoppenbrock, K.H. (2000) Effects of on-farm diets for organic pig production on performance and carcass quality. Journal of Animal Science 78,1199-1205
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citation: Hospers-Brands, M.Sc. A.J.T.M.; Bremer, B.Sc. E.G.H. and Lammerts van Bueren, Ph.D. E.T. (2006) The prevention of potato volunteers in organic farming systems by using pigs. [ Unpublished, ]
document_url: http://orgprints.org/10353/1/Prevention_of_potato_volunteers_with_pigs.pdf