Alternative pig housing systems with high welfare standards – Status quo and perspectives

Summary

The term “alternative housing system” is an umbrella term for systems that encompass welfare and/or sustainability while also ensuring productivity. “Conventional housing” usually describes a barren indoor system that strongly limits animals’ behavioural freedoms. Alternative systems such as organic, free-range, pasture-based, agroforestry or regenerative generally meet the social, exploratory and locomotory needs of the pigs. Organic production is an absolute niche, with a market share in pigs of less than 1% in Europe. Legislation and private standards for organic livestock production differ between countries. In some countries organic pigs are kept predominantly free-range, in other countries they have access to a concrete outdoor run but not to soil. These differences influence pig health and welfare. Free-range pig husbandry (organic or non-organic) is associated with less (e.g.) respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. As bedding material is provided, organic pigs in general have a lower prevalence of auxiliary bursae. The risk for parasite infestation, however, is increased because of restrictions on preventive deworming. Newer, innovative approaches aim at integrating various essential resources within the housing system. Provision of a rooting area filled with earth-like materials and a pool enable display of rooting and wallowing behaviour, both of which are impeded in most housing environments. While both resources are intensively used by pigs, the soiling of these areas is a management challenge. Targeted temporary restriction on the use of these resources or distribution of feed are measures that have been tested in on-farm settings to reduce soiling. Future developments will aim at further increasing the variability of environments and providing pigs with more choice. More variability could for example be implemented in feeding (location, type, and accessibility) or installations for cognitive enrichment. The ideas for such new approaches originate either from farmers or from researchers. The implementation needs to be accompanied by research to analyze the desired effects on health and welfare but also to optimize practicability.