Organic pig producers across Europe set the scene for research to improve animal welfare and reduce ammonia emission

Summary

The CORE Organic Cofund project POWER asks organic pig producers in eight European countries for innovative ideas to test; the aim is to improve animal welfare and reduce ammonia emissions from outdoor runs in organic housing systems for growing pigs. Across Europe, organic pig producers rear growing-finishing pigs in indoor housing systems with access to outdoor runs. Increased space requirements combined with access to roughage and outdoor areas promote pig welfare.However, these housing systems, depending on the outdoorrun construction, can be associatedwith poor pen hygiene, low possibilities for the pigs to carry out natural behaviour and risks of ammonia emissions.