Case studies on innovative combined indoor/outdoor organic pig systems

Summary

Abstract
In many European countries, organic pigs are housed indoors with a concrete outdoor run. However, previous results have shown that combined systems with indoor housing and access to pasture have some advantages concerning animal welfare and environmental impact compared to sole indoor systems. These combined systems vary considerably across countries.
Some farmers have only specific age categories on pasture, some provide limited access and others developed new approaches to management or infrastructure. The goal of this study, which is part of the CORE Organic Cofund POWER project, was to analyse specific innovations in combined systems for weaners, fatteners and sows in Denmark, Italy and Switzerland. For example, the selected innovations comprise a self-constructed mobile pen on a trailer, which is large enough to keep the pigs on the trailer if the weather does not allow them to use the pasture. Another example was a mobile pen that can be moved, including the attached fences. Moreover, farms with innovative management practices were included, like the alternating use of grassland, cropland and forest.
The selected farms have been visited four times between summer 2019 and autumn 2020. Trained observers assessed individual animal health and welfare status according to a common protocol. Indicators were, for example, species-specific behaviour, lesions, lameness or body condition score. Farmers provided extensive data regarding farm management, feed production, housing etc., to analyse the different systems and identify their strength and weaknesses. The farmers' experiences, the collected data and analysis of the different innovative systems were summarised in factsheets to use this knowledge for advising other farms. These factsheets can help to diversify and improve such combined systems.

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• Case studies on innovative combined indoor/outdoor organic pig systems. (deposited 03 Dec 2021 10:26) [Currently Displayed]
  • Case studies on innovative combined indoor/outdoor organic pig systems. (deposited 06 Dec 2021 13:34)