?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Bundesprogramm+%C3%83%C2%96kologischer+Landbau+(B%C3%83%C2%96L)%3A+Tier&rft.subject=+Animal+husbandry&rft.description=The+Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+(FOFS)%3A++This+scheme+is+a+temporary+funding+source+(2002+%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%93+2007%2F2008)+especially+to+support+the+whole+organic+farming+sector+(incl.+research)+in+Germany.++In+the+summer+of+2001%2C+the+Federal+Ministry+of+Consumer+Protection%2C+Food+and+Agriculture+commissioned+a+project+team+comprised+of+representatives+from+associations+and+science+and+headed+by+the+Federal+Agricultural+Research+Centre+to+develop+a+proposal+for+a+package+of+measures+to+foster+organic+farming+in+Germany.+A+hearing+of+representatives+from+trade+and+industry%2C+associations%2C+consultancy%2C+science+and+administration+laid+the+foundation+for+the+team's+work.%0D%0ABased+on+this+work%2C+the+Federal+Minister+of+Consumer+Protection%2C+Food+and+Agriculture+Renate+K%C3%83%C2%BCnast+decided+to+incorporate+the+proposed+measures+into+the+Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+(FOFS)+to+translate+them+into+practice.+This+scheme+supplements+existing+support+measures+with+the+aim+of+improving+the+basic+conditions+necessary+for+expanding+organic+farming.+At+the+same+time%2C+it+strives+to+increase+supply+and+demand+on+a+balanced%2C+sustainable+basis.+These+measures+tackle+all+levels+of+organic+farming%2C+from+the+production+to+the+consumption+of+organically+produced+food.+Plans+include+training+and+information+measures.+Emphasis+is+also+being+placed+on+research+promotion%2C+the+development+of+new+technologies+and+steps+to+translate+research+findings+into+practice.+Currently+the+FOFS+is+the+main+pool+of+the+BMVEL+for+organic+research+funding.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AAnimal+husbandry+Programme+Part%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+role+of+research+about+animal+husbandry+can+be+deduced+from+the+history+of+organic+farming.+It+has+never+played+a+major+role+and+even+lost+part+of+the+genetic+resources+like+locally+adapted+breeds+and+health+features.+Compared+to+the+subject+of+crop+husbandry%2C+less+project+proposals+were+handed+in.+One+reason+for+the+lower+number+of+research+projects+on+organic+animal+husbandry+under+the+BOEL+is+that+projects+concerning+animal+husbandry+are+in+general+far+more+expensive+than+e.g.+crop+husbandry+projects.+During+the+first+period+of+the++Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+B%C3%83%C2%96L+(2002-2003)+several+status+quo+projects+about+animal+husbandry+of+cattle%2C+pigs+and+poultry%2C+as+well+as+aquaculture+were+realised.+The+results+served+as+a+basis+for+follow-up+projects+considering+more+specific%2C+current+and+relevant+issues.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A1)+Animal+health+and+rearing+of+livestock%0D%0AIn+general%2C+it+can+be+observed+for+all+productive+livestock+that+differences+in+the+health+status+of+animals+under+organic+or+conventional+livestock+husbandry+differ+less+than+between+farms+of+the+same+production+type.+This+allows+the+conclusion+that+it+is+mainly+a+matter+of+husbandry+management+determining+if+an+animal+is+healthy+or+not.%0D%0AIn+the+case+of+cattle+husbandry%2C+which+plays+an+important+role+in+organic+farming%2C+one+research+focus+is+animal+health.+Mainly+udder+diseases+like+mastitis+prevent+a+higher+productivity+and+better+quality+of+the+given+milk.+Therefore%2C+management+support+systems+are+developed+in+running+projects+and+implemented+into+practice.+These+tools+should+enable+farmers+to+establish+the+basic+conditions+(building+of+stables%2C+hygienic+aspects%2C+milking+techniques)+for+improved+animal+health.+Only+when+these+preconditions+are+fulfilled%2C+more+advanced+treatments+(e.g.+homoeopathy)+can+be+successful+in+mastitis+prophylaxis.%0D%0A%0D%0AA+similar+situation+can+be+found+in+pig+husbandry%2C+where+project+results+show+that+the+status+of+animal+health+is+not+yet+satisfactory.+Considering+observations+on+living+animals+as+well+as+diagnostic+findings+of+the+carcass+(liver%2C+lung)+it+was+evident+that+the+presently+practised+hygienic+management+and+husbandry+systems+are+often+not+compatible+with+the+requirement+for+better+health+conditions+under+organic+farming.+In+comparison+to+other+countries+the+basis+for+organic+pig+production+is+comparably+narrow+in+Germany.+Only+a+few+hundred+farms+are+involved+in+breeding+of+piglets+and+fattening+of+pigs.+Next+to+the+research+itself%2C+knowledge+transfer+is+of+main+interest.+Therefore%2C+different+projects+of+the+Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+include+extension+service+in+their+research.+Furthermore%2C+pig+farms+from+neighbouring+countries+like+Austria+and+Switzerland+are+partly+included+in+surveys+and+evaluations.%0D%0AThe+organic+rules+and+regulations+for+species+appropriated+husbandry+and+better+animal+welfare+do+not+necessarily+guarantee+advanced+animal+health.+To+adjust+this+imbalance+is+a+challenge+the+Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+is+facing+with+the+current+projects.%0D%0A%0D%0A2)+Animal+Feeding+and+Breeding%0D%0AFollowing+recent+regulations+for+organic+animal+husbandry+it+will+be+compulsory+to+feed+animals+with+100%25+organic+fodder.+So+far%2C+it+was+possible+to+use+conventional+additives.+This+upcoming+restriction+means+a+challenge+for+all+organic+farms+involved+in+animal+husbandry+still+reaching+high+outputs+in+spite+of+the+low+energy+density+and+partly+different+composition+of+organic+fodder+under+the+circumstances+of+a+permanent+tightening+market+competition.%0D%0AThere+are+two+ways+to+go+in+order+to+solve+the+existing+problems.+On+the+one+hand%2C+there+are+several+breeds+used+in+organic+farming+today%2C+which+are+not+adapted+to+an+optimum+in+their+demands+and+requirements+to+the+conditions+of+organic+animal+husbandry.+In+lack+of+adequate+breeds%2C+adapted+hybrids+are+used%2C+which+have+been+reared+for+the+demands+of+conventional+circumstances.+Features+like+longevity%2C+robustness%2C+persistent+performance+and+adaptation+to+extensive+husbandry+conditions+were+lost+along+the+way.+Therefore%2C+it+is+of+main+importance+for+the+establishment+of+suitable+breeds+for+organic+farming+to+establish+breeding+programmes+and+develop+breeding+criteria+under+the+recognition+of+still+available+genetic+resources.%0D%0AOn+the+other+hand%2C+it+is+necessary+to+improve+the+used+fodder+in+a+way+that+neither+deficiency+symptoms+nor+depression+of+performance+will+appear.+This+problem+can+be+clearly+demonstrated+by+the+example+of+feeding+layers%3A+When+the+layers+are+fed+according+to+organic+criteria%2C+a+deficit+especially+in+essential+amino+acids+in+the+fodder+is+detectable.+A+supplement%2C+e.g.+of+synthetically+produced+methionine%2C+is+not+allowed.+Therefore%2C+two+joint+projects+from+the+Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+are+searching+for+ways+to+extract+methionine+from+natural+sources%3A+In+one+project%2C+different+algae+species+are+screened+in+view+of+a+higher+methionine+synthesis.+Another+project+is+focusing+on+the+search+for+bacteria+showing+higher+methionine+production+caused+through+natural+mutation.+If+these+projects+are+successful%2C+a+natural+source+of+methionine+might+be+available+in+the+future.+Used+as+a+fodder+additive%2C+it+could+avoid+the+above-named+deficiency+symptoms.%0D%0A&rft.type=Research+Programme+description&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.identifier=%7BProgramme+part%7D+B%C3%83%C2%96L%3A+Bundesprogramm+%C3%83%C2%96kologischer+Landbau+(B%C3%83%C2%96L)%3A+Tier.+[Federal+Organic+Farming+Scheme+(FOFS)%3A+Animal+Husbandry.]+Runs+2002+-+2008.+Programme+Leader(s)%3A+Lange%2C+Stefan.+More+information+online+at+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bundesprogramm-oekolandbau.de%2Fausschreibungen_f_und_e_massnahmen.html+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bundesprogramm-oekolandbau.de%2Fausschreibungen_f_und_e_massnahmen.html%3E%3E.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F5967%2F