Institute of Organic Farming Albert Sundrum Friedrich Weißmann Organic pig production in free range systems Published as: Landbauforschung Völkenrode Sonderheft 281 Braunschweig Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) 2005 Sonderheft 281 Special Issue Organic pig production in free range systems edited by Albert Sundrum and Friedrich Weißmann Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.ddb.de . Die Verantwortung für die Inhalte der einzelnen Beiträge liegt bei den jeweiligen Verfassern bzw. Verfasserinnen. 2005 Landbauforschung Völkenrode - FAL Agricultural Research Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft (FAL) Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany [email protected] Preis / Price: 7 € ISSN 0376-0723 ISBN 3-86576-005-8 Table of contents Preface A. Sundrum and F. Weissmann ……………………………………………………………... 1 Integration of organic pig production into land use J. E. Hermansen ……………………………………………………………………………... 3 Behaviour, performance and carcass quality of three genotypes of growing-finishing pigs in outdoor pig production in Austria: A pilot study Simone Laister and S. Konrad .......………………………………………………………….. 13 Performance, carcass and meat quality of different pig genotypes in an extensive outdoor fattening system on grass clover in organic farming F. Weissmann, G. Biedermann and A. Klitzing ...................................................................... 19 Fattening pigs in an outdoor system as a part of the crop rotation within organic farming: Growth performance and carcass yield Antje Farke and A. Sundrum ………………………………………………………………... 25 Integration of organic pig production within crop rotation: Implications on nutrient losses M. Quintern ………………………………………………………………………………….. 31 Outdoor pig farming in the Netherlands H. van der Mheen and H. Vermeer ....……………………………………………………….. 41 Documentation of animal health in organic pig herds: A case study Marianne Bonde, N. P. Baadsgaard and J. T. Sørensen ……………………………………... 45 Landbauforschung Völkenrode, Special Issue 281 1 Preface Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture through the Federal Agency for Agriculture and According to different consumer surveys, a Foods, was to identify problems within free range considerable market potential is forecast for systems and to provide strategies for its im• organically produced pork. However, supply provement. Free range systems for fattening pigs clearly lags behind demand. Compared to have to take into account various aspects at the other areas, organic pig production is of mi same time. Therefore only a system-oriented nor relevance in organic agriculture in almost approach seems to be adequate to deal with the all European countries and is still in its be problems. Thus, an interdisciplinary workshop ginnings. There are many reasons for this was organized within the above-mentioned pro which also differ from country to country. ject in December 2003. The objectives were to Beside a lack of market transparency as well provide an overview of the many different as an insufficient marketing structure, there aspects and problems and to discuss possible are severe problems with regard to the con solution strategies. The following papers are ba version of conventional pig units into organic sed on this workshop. The contributions are in units. Among other factors, the traditional tended to provide comprehensive information on housing systems with fully-slatted floors the current state of the art and to support the de cannot be used in organic pig production. velopment of free range systems for fattening Rebuilding and new buildings based on the pigs with regard to the increasing demand for indoor and outdoor areas prescribed in the organic pork. EEC-Regulation (2092/91) are very expen sive. Thus, organic free range systems might Witzenhausen and Trenthorst, May 2005 be a fundamental alternative to keeping pigs indoors. Albert Sundrum Friedrich Weissmann While in some countries free range systems for sows are well established, only little ex Head of the Depart- Section Leader for Or perience and knowledge are available con ment of Animal Nutri- ganic Meat Production, tion and Animal Institute of Organic cerning the production of fattening pigs in Health, University of Farming, Federal Agri- outdoor systems. The objective in a project Kassel, Germany cultural Research Centre, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Braunschweig, Germany 2 A. Sundrum and F. Weißmann (eds.), Organic pig production in free range systems, 2005 Landbauforschung Völkenrode, Special Issue 281 3 Integration of organic pig production that the difference is related to the fact that it is far into land use more difficult for the farmers to change the produc­ tion system for pigs compared to production systems J. E. Hermansen 1 for cows and other ruminants in a way that gives a harmonious balance between the different aims of organic farming. Introduction The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the Livestock often plays an important role – besides prospects and constraints for an integration of pig supporting income for the farmers – in obtaining production into land use based on the Danish ex­ some of the principle aims in organic farming i.e. perience so far. diversified production and supporting biological cycles within the farming system. However, some Typical pig production systems main conflicts may appear in how and to what Some main requirements within EU as related to pig degree the different aims can be obtained. In relation production are that pigs should have access to graz­ to livestock, conflicts may appear in the most ing for at least some part of the year. Though, fin­ appropriate keeping practice related to consideration ishers can be housed in barns if they have access to of the basic aspects of their innate behaviour on one an outdoor run in at least 80% of their lifetime. The hand, the risk of pollution from the production on weaning age for piglets should be at least 40 days. the other and, in addition, the aim of producing in sufficient quantities. These possible conflicts are In different countries or different certification bod­ reflected in the compromises set in national or EU ies, stricter rules can be implemented. So, several regulations on organic farming. The regulations, ways of organic pig production take place due to however, often develop after an intensive debate different practice as well as different regulations in where, sometimes, you may get the impression that different countries. The typical way in Denmark livestock production may be acceptable but not represents some of the major challenges to be met desirable in organic farming, at least for some for the development of the organic pig production. species. In the long term, it therefore seems Typically, sows are kept in outdoor systems all year important that production systems are developed so round (Figure 1 and 2) and pigs are moved to an that different sorts of livestock production can indoor pig unit with an outdoor yard when they are contribute directly to a steadily increasing fulfilling weaned at seven weeks of age. This system was of the organic ideals on a national scale or at farm stimulated by a simultaneous development of out­ level. This is in particular true as regards pig door systems for conventional sow production as production. indicated in Table 1. Since 1996, the number of sows housed outdoors has doubled and the organic Andresen (2000) puts words to the idea saying that production has increased fourfold. However, as it the view on livestock should be changed from appears from Table 1, stagnation in organic pig considering them as being passive (receivers) to production seems to take place. The number, 74,000, active parts of the sustainable development of of finishers is only less than 0.3% of the total Dan­ production systems. More focus should be put on ish pork production of approximately 23 mill. per the (various) capabilities of the animals and less on year. This underlines the underdevelopment of this the "requirements" of the animals. The challenge is sector in Denmark. then to give conditions so that the livestock can optimize the value of their various capabilities rather Because it is part of the organic regulations to have than to control the animal in the environment. The the sows on pasture for at least 150 days during emphasis on animal performance then shifts from summertime and a number of conventional farmers mere feed conversion to functional efficiency in the had positive experiences with keeping their sow farming system. This leads to new parameters for herds outdoors all year round, the Danish organic evaluation. producers choose this system too. In this way, they have only one production system for their sow herd In contrast to milk and beef products organic pork instead of having both, a system for summer hous­ were not on the top five list in any of 18 European ing and a system for winter housing. The layout of Countries (Michelsen et al 1999). There is no reason the paddocks depends on soil type and the available to believe that this difference is caused by a differ­ land at the individual farm. The paddocks are nor­ ence in the consumers’ preferences. It is more likely mally moved to a new field every spring, often in a two-year crop rotation - one year with barley with an under-sown grass-ley and one year with sows on 1 Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Dept. of pasture. The stocking rate is adjusted to an excretion Agroecology, Postboks 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark, Email: [email protected] 4 A. Sundrum and F. Weißmann (eds.), Organic pig production in free range systems, 2005 of 140 kg N in pigs manure per ha and year (often • Born alive/litter: 11.8 versus 12.1 practised as 280 kg N/ha every second year). • Weaned/litter 9.8 versus 10.8 The way of production may be different in other countries. In some countries, the sows are mainly (Lauritsen et al., 2000; Larsen, 2001). Number of kept at pasture in the summer period.