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Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – Effects on some performance and health aspects

Bussemas, R. and Weissmann, F. (2008) Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – Effects on some performance and health aspects. Poster at: Cultivating the Future Based on Science: 2nd Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research ISOFAR, Modena, Italy, June 18-20, 2008.

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Summary

The organic piglet suckling period typically takes about 6 weeks due to the minimum requirement of the EEC Regulation 2092/91 of 40 days. But piglets weaned in such a period are often characterized by inferior performance and health status. It is the aim of the present study to examine whether a prolonged suckling period of 63 days results in better performance and health status of the piglets. Therefore 36 sows were divided into 2 groups of 18 sows each as a control group with 42 days suckling period and a test group with 63 days suckling period. The rearing period for both the control group and the test group ended on day 77 p.n., which was also the end of the piglets´ data collection period. Three farrowing cycles with 108 litters were recorded. The extended suckling period resulted in an improved growth rate and in a reduced number of medically treated piglets and did not negatively affect the body condition and teats of the sows. Hence a prolongation of the suckling period compared to the minimum requirement of the EEC Regulation 2092/91 seems to be advisable.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Poster
Keywords:Organic piglet production, prolonged suckling period, weaning age, performance, health aspects, BÖL, BOEL, FKZ 03OE378
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Production systems > Pigs
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry > Production systems
Research affiliation: International Conferences > 2008: IFOAM OWC: Research Track / ISOFAR > 3.2 Husbandry and breeding – non ruminants
Germany > Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries - VTI > Institute of Organic Farming - OEL
Germany > Federal Organic Farming Scheme - BOELN > Animals > Tiergesundheit
Related Links:http://www.bundesprogramm-oekolandbau.de, http://www.bundesprogramm.de/fkz=03OE378, http://orgprints.org/perl/search/advanced?addtitle%2Ftitle=&keywords=03OE378&projects=BOEL&_order=bypublication&_action_search=Suchen
Deposited By: Weißmann, Dr. Friedrich
ID Code:12087
Deposited On:23 Sep 2008
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:36
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted
Additional Publishing Information:This paper is published in the conference proceedings:
Neuhoff, Daniel; Halberg, Niels; Alfldi, Thomas; Lockeretz, William; Thommen, Andreas; Rasmussen, Ilse A.; Hermansen, John; Vaarst, Mette; Lck, Lorna; Carporali, Fabio; Jensen, Henning Hgh; Migliorini, Paola and Willer, Helga, Eds. (2008) .Cultivating the Future Based on Science. Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 . 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy.. International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), c/o IOL, DE-Bonn, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, CH-Frick. http://orgprints.org/13672 and http://orgprints.org/13674

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