?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2Fid%2Feprint%2F1034%2F&rft.title=Analysis+of+black+holes+in+our+knowledge+concerning+animal+health+in+the+organic+food+production+chain&rft.creator=Kijlstra%2C+Aize&rft.creator=Groot%2C+Maria&rft.creator=Roest%2C+van+der%2C+Joop&rft.creator=Kasteel%2C+Daniella&rft.creator=Eijck%2C+Ineke&rft.subject=+Health+and+welfare&rft.description=Although+a+large+body+of+research+on+health+aspects+can+be+found+via+the+web+or+in+conference+proceedings%2C+only+few+papers+reach+the+peer+reviewed+literature.+This+aspect+makes+it+difficult+to+judge+the+quality+of+available+data+that+relate+to+health+aspects+associated+with+organic+livestock+production.+%0D%0A%0D%0AMany+data+deal+with+%22on+farm+case+type+studies%22+which+often+do+not+lead+to+a+direct+relation+between+certain+management+procedures+and+incidence+of+certain+health+aspects.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+principle+that+organic+held+animals+are+in+better+condition+concerning+their+health+as+compared+to+conventionally+held+animals+has+not+yet+been+proven.+Well-controlled+studies+are+needed+to+show+the+effects+of+organically+held+animals+on+innate+and+adaptive+immune+responses+and+disease+susceptibility.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+conditions+in+organic+livestock+production+lead+to+novel+challenges+concerning+social+interactions%2C+physical+requirements%2C+climatic+conditions+and+infectious+burden+which+requires+certain+breeds+of+animals+that+differ+considerably+from+the+conventionally+held+animals.+More+research+is+needed+to+identify+these+breeds+whereby+breeding+selection+criteria+specific+to+organic+conditions+and+principles+should+be+used.%0D%0A%0D%0AA+number+of+health+problems+such+as+infestation+with+parasites+is+an+important+problem+that+has+been+noted+in+organic+livestock+(poultry+and+pig)+production+and+more+research+is+needed+to+both+prevent+and+treat+these+infections.+Although+largely+recommended%2C+phytotherapy+and+homeopathy+do+not+have+any+demonstrated+efficacy+in+managing+helminths.+A+multidisciplinary+approach+is+needed+to+address+these+questions.+Investigations+should+be+concerned+with+aspects+such+as+rotation%2C+stocking+density%2C+disinfections+strategies%2C+genetic+predisposition+and+novel+(plant+derived+or+biological)+antihelminthics.%0D%0A%0D%0AA+major+drawback+in+the+use+of+phytotherapeuticals+is+the+lack+of+good+clinical+trials%2C+most+claims+are+based+on+traditional+use%2C+anecdotal+evidence+or+extrapolation+of+human+data.+Another+problem+is+the++consistency%2Fstandardisation+of+the+product%3B+variations+exist+in+the+levels+of+%22active%22+ingredients+between+lots.%0D%0A%0D%0AExtensive+studies+have+shown+that+garlic+has+a+beneficial+effect+on+human+health+and+therefore+would+possibly+be+a+suitable+candidate+to+increase+the+health+of+animals+in+organic+production.+Further+research+is+needed+to+substantiate+this+claim.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlthough+mastitis+is+not+seen+more+often+in+organic+dairy+production+compared+to+conventional+farms%2C+it+is+still+frequently+encountered+and+both+basic+and+applied+research+concerning+prevention+and+cure+without+the+traditional+use+of+antibiotics+is+needed.%0D%0A%0D%0AMore+knowledge+is+needed+concerning+effects+of+alternative+treatments+in+organic+livestock+production.+As+long+as+alternative+treatments+have+not+formally+been+proven+to+be+effective%2C+allopathic+treatments+should+be+preferred.+Studies+are+needed+concerning+the+welfare+aspects+of+disease+and+insufficient+or+postponed+treatment+in+organic+animal+production+systems.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+is+generally+accepted+that+feather+picking+and+cannibalism+is+a+major+problem+in+organic+poultry+and+more+research+is+needed+to+counter+this+unwanted+behaviour+of+the+animals.+The+following+aspects+including+genetic+influences%2C+housing+environment%2C+feed+composition+and+the+presence+of+external+parasites+may+be+involved.%0D%0A%0D%0AVaccination+has+been+one+of+the+largest+success+factors+in+the+prevention+of+disease+in+production+animals.+Most+vaccines+used+nowadays+are+genetically+engineered+and+should+thus+carry+the+GMO+label.+GMO+based+vaccines+produced+by+incorporating+genetic+material+from+bacteria+or+viruses+into+plants+is+an+attractive+approach+but+does+not+comply+with+the+principles+of+organic+farming.+Investigations+concerning+various+vaccination+strategies+with+or+without+GMO+approaches+should+be+evaluated+to+prevent+various+infectious+diseases+in+organic+livestock+production+systems.%0D%0A%0D%0AOrganic+livestock+production+leads+to+an+increase+or+re-emergence+of+certain+zoonotic+diseases+(+Campylobacter%2C+toxoplasma).+This+is+a+serious+drawback+concerning+claims+that+organic+products+are+healthier+as+compared+to+conventional+products+and+research+into+the+prevalence+of+certain+zoonotic+infections%2C+risk+factors%2C+farm+management%2C+post+slaughter+decontamination+and+consumer+perception%2Feducation+is+badly+needed.%0D%0A%0D%0ASeveral+micro-organisms+are+described+to+be+present+in+feeds+and+could+be+sources+of+infections+of+farm+animals.+Such+pathogens+can+be+either+present+on+the+outside+of+the+plant+(epiphytes)+or+on+the+inside+of+the+plant+(endophytes).+The+incidence+of+pathogenic+bacteria+in%2Fon+plants+used+for+organic+animal+feed+is+not+clear+and+therefore+research+on+the+incidence+of+these+pathogens+is+needed.%0D%0A%0D%0ABiological+cycles+such+as+the+utilisation+of+manure+from+organic+farms+may+potentially+lead+to+the+creation+of+infectious+reservoirs.+Research+is+needed+to+provide+evidence+for+this+hypothesis+and+strategies+should+be+devised+to+prevent+this+problem.%0D%0A%0D%0ALittle+is+known+about+the+role+of+pests+in+the+occurrence+of+disease+in+organic+livestock+production.+Research+is+needed+into+the+efficacy+of+alternative+pest+control+strategies+since+current+pest+control+methods+are+not+in+agreement+with+organic+production+principles+(use+of+anticoagulants+for+rodent+control).+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+obligatory+use+of+straw+bedding+in+swine+household+management+leads+to+higher+dust+and+bioareosol+(endotoxin)+levels+in+stables.+This+may+affect+susceptibility+to+lung+disease+(farmer+and+animal)+and+investigations+concerning+measures+to+reduce+dust+and+bioaerosol+levels+are+needed.+Current+literature+on+this+subject+is+not+concordant+and+true+differences+may+exist+between+management+systems+from+different+countries.%0D%0A%0D%0APiglet+mortality+is+an+important+problem+in+organic+production+systems+and+research+concerning+genetic+and+housing+aspects+is+currently+performed+but+not+yet+reported+in+the+peer-reviewed+literature.%0D%0A%0D%0AAmino+acid+imbalance+and+research+into+novel+feed+sources+with+high+protein+content+is+needed.+More+knowledge+is+known+concerning+possible+anti-nutritive+factors+in+these+feeds+and+the+effects+of+these+new+nutrients+on+gut+health+of+the+animals.%0D%0A%0D%0AAmino+acid+imbalance+may+lead+to+higher+excretion+of+excess+amino+acids+into+the+environment.+On+farm+research+should+be+performed+to+substantiate+whether+these+claims+also+apply+to+organic+production+systems.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+has+been+suggested+that+organic+feeds+for+animals+in+organic+production+systems+may+contain+higher+mycotoxin+levels+thereby+adversely+affecting+their+health+status.+As+yet+no+conclusive+data+concerning+this+issue+has+been+published+and+research+into+this+area+is+needed+to+prove+or+reject+this+myth.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs+yet+it+is+not+known+whether+phytase+levels+in+organic+feed+for+pigs+are+sufficient+to+allow+optimal+utilisation+of+organic+phosphor+thereby+also+leading+to+a+lower+environmental+pollution%3B+further+investigations+are+needed+in+this+area.&rft.date=2003&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=%2Fid%2Feprint%2F1034%2F1%2FIDhiaten.pdf&rft.identifier=+++Kijlstra%2C+Aize%3B+Groot%2C+Maria%3B+Roest%2C+van+der%2C+Joop%3B+Kasteel%2C+Daniella+and+Eijck%2C+Ineke+++++++++(2003)+Analysis+of+black+holes+in+our+knowledge+concerning+animal+health+in+the+organic+food+production+chain.++++Wageningen+UR+%2C+Animal+Sciences+Group.++++