Animal welfare and animal health in organic pig farming (EIP organic pigs)
Project Leader: Lange, Jeannette, C.; Prof. Dr. Knierim, Ute
Project description:
Despite the good conditions for healthy, species-appropriate and
economically successful pig farming, there is still a need for optimization and potential for improvement in
various areas
for organic farms, e.g. in the area of
animal losses, injury rates or organic performance,
all of which also influence the economic success of
farms. Although individual studies have already
addressed this topic, no resounding
improvement has yet been achieved in practice.
The project builds on the existing findings, in cooperation with the
entire value chain (sow farmers, fatteners, processors) and in
collaboration with consultants and scientists. In a first step
, indicators for assessing the
herd are defined together with the farm managers. Farm managers are trained to carry out their own
flock inspections in order to gain a better
view of the problems in the flock and to record key parameters
.
Slaughterhouse staff are also trained to recognize and
document slaughter findings in a uniform and repeatable manner. Farmers and slaughterhouse staff are supported by the
project partners in collecting data. Based on the
evaluated results, areas are identified together with the farm managers and the
processor in which the farms can achieve improvements through
appropriate measures.
Following implementation of the measures and renewed data collection,
generalizable action plans for practice and a
concept for successful consulting can be developed. Both contribute
to the expansion of organic pig farming.
Funded by: European Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" in North Rhine-Westphalia (EIP Agricultural Directive)
Publications: