L5BGP74W

2610

24 décembre 2020 15:40

24 décembre 2020 15:40

This report reviews the available information on the welfare of pigs when maintained according to organic standards in Europe. Across different European countries the proportion of pigs managed organically ranged in 2007 from 0.1 to 1.6% of the national pig production. Although all production is governed by COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1804/1999, the typical housing and husbandry systems vary between countries as a result of differences in national legislation, certification body standards and climatic conditions. Thus some animals are kept in extensive, pasture based systems whilst others are housed with simple outdoor concrete runs. There is very limited information on the health and welfare of sows in organic production systems. They have more behavioural freedom, but may be exposed to greater climatic challenges, parasite infestation and risk of body condition loss. General risk factors for health and welfare conditions can be extrapolated from knowledge gained in conventional systems. Issues with particular importance for organic production include outdoor access, roughage feeding, later weaning, less sophisticated diets and lack of good health management strategies. Health, welfare and production problems of organic suckling piglets are also poorly known due to a lack of information in commercial farms. Organic farms are often characterized by a relatively low level of human intervention on animals around birth as well as by a low level of control of the environment of the animals, including microclimate, germs and parasites. It seems that piglet mortality is relatively high in organic farming but with a high variability between farms suggesting that improvement is easily feasible. Issues with particular importance for organic production are (a) control of the microclimate surrounding neonatal piglets, (b) management strategies to decrease the risks of germ and parasite infections, (c) selection of genotypes adapted to organic farming with special emphasis on robustness. Diseases around weaning are multifactorial in nature. In general, not one but several factors are in place, simultaneously imposing stressors at weaning. The number of possible combinations of stressors, which additionally vary considerably in the possible extent and pathogenic capacity, are unlimited. The identification of main stressors supports the interpretation of the distress response of piglets in the specific farm conditions. However, trying to disentangle the various factors by a mono-causal approach can much diminish the combined response. The use of antibiotics in herds with organic fattening pigs is lower compared to herds with conventional pigs. This is probably a result of the alternative system leading to a lower infection level, since no difference in mortality pigs could be discovered. The increased exposure to factors such as transporting and mixing pigs, especially in combination with a lack of age segregated housing, may increase the risk of respiratory diseases in organic pig farming. However, slaughter data indicate that organic pigs have fewer respiratory problems, skin lesions (including abscesses and hernias) and tail wounds compared to conventional pigs. On the other hand white spot livers and joint lesions are more common among organic pigs. The most important health concern among organic farmers seems to relate to endo- and ectoparasites. In general there are many different methods, parameters and data to measure and to monitor animal health and welfare. The challege is for most countries to combine and link different sources in order to make good use of available information. Abattoir data are very often not fed back to farmers and very few veterinarians review medicine records, which could be used for monitoring and improvement strategies. Also most veterinarians use an “emergency approach” mostly dealing with acute diseases rather than preventative strategies. There are many challenges related with monitoring systems, in order to reflect the “real” situation. The information gathered in this review formed the basis for the subsequent development of tools for use in a HACCP based management and surveillance system for organic pig herds. These tools will assist the organic pig farmer to prevent selected pig diseases and welfare problems by monitoring and controlling the risk factors.

None

• AB - Spécifique
• CORE Organic
• FREDO mode élevage, bien-être et qualité
• GEO Europe
• porc
• élevage

2011

1 janvier 2011