Innovative animal-friendly husbandry methods for organic pig and cattle farming within the framework of the amended EU Organic Farming Regulation
Project participants: Prof. Dr. Ute, Knierim ; Dr Asja, Ebinghaus; Rebecca Franz- Wippermann
Project details:
In organic cattle and pig farming, access to pasture or outdoor runs is obligatory. In addition, there are increasingly innovative systems with indoor and outdoor areas that are not clearly separated, making it unclear which sections of the housing system are to be counted as indoor and which as outdoor areas according to the EU Organic Regulation. Despite sufficient total area, it is possible to fall short of the area requirements in the barn in particular, without this being associated with disadvantages for the animals. On the other hand, such more open husbandry methods can also offer advantages in terms of animal welfare. The aim of the project was to develop husbandry criteria, taking into account the species-specific needs of cattle and pigs, which can be used to assess whether the requirements for particularly animal-friendly husbandry are met, regardless of the distribution of the available space between the indoor and outdoor areas. The criteria were discussed with broad expert participation and their applicability was tested using examples of husbandry methods. In an English-language report, the current state of knowledge on the needs of pigs and cattle with special reference to outdoor climate conditions and the derived husbandry criteria is presented and examples of innovative, particularly animal-friendly husbandry methods that meet the developed criteria are presented. It is concluded that the distinction between indoor and outdoor areas is not very meaningful for the new, more open husbandry methods and that the criteria developed should instead be used to assess whether these methods offer conditions for improved animal welfare. Regulation (EU) 2020/464 should make it possible, in positive cases, to deviate from the minimum indoor and outdoor areas laid down in Part I of Annex I, provided that the required minimum total area (indoor and outdoor area) is offered.