Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T18:22:28.315Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Husbandry and Animal Health on Organic Pig Farms in Austria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

J Baumgartner ,
T Leeb ,
T Gruber  and
R Tiefenbacher
J Baumgartner*
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
T Leeb
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
T Gruber
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
R Tiefenbacher
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: johannes.baumgartner@vu-wien.ac.at
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Expectations of retailers and consumers regarding animal health and welfare and meat quality are particularly high for organic products. The aim of this study was therefore to provide an overview of the health and welfare of pigs on organic farms in Austria. Eighty-four organic pig farms were investigated. The farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire. In addition to clinical examination, the pigs were monitored at slaughter to determine the prevalence of organ lesions. The average herd size was 20.1 productive sows in the sow units and 84 fattening pigs in the finishing units. All farms used indoor production systems and provided straw to the pigs. Pregnant sows and finishers had access to an outdoor run in more than 90% of farms, but less than 15% of farms had outdoor runs for lactating sows and weaners. In more than 75% of the herds, endoparasites were found in faecal samples. About 50% of slaughter pigs displayed milk spots on the liver, 24% had pneumonic lesions and 18% showed mange. The results indicate that preventive measures in husbandry, management and hygiene must be intensified to improve animal health and welfare on organic pig farms and to meet the expectations of the consumers.

Keywords

animal healthanimal welfareAustriahusbandryorganic farmingpig
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2003 , pp. 631 - 635
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BMLFUW 2001 Grüner Bericht 2000: Bericht über die Lage der österreichischen Landwirtschaft 1999. Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft (BMLFUW): Wien, Austria [Title translation: Green Report 2000: Report about the situation of Austrian agriculture 1999]: Report about the situation of Austrian agriculture 1999]Google Scholar
BMSG 1997 Österreichisches Lebensmittelbuch, Kapitel A8, Teilkapitel B: Landwirtschaftliche Produkte tierischer Herkunft. Bundesministerium für soziale Sicherheit und Generationen (BMSG): Wien, Austria [Title translation: Agricultural products originating from animals]Google Scholar
CEC 1999 Council Regulation No 1804/1999 of 19 July 1999 supplementing regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production. Official Journal of the European Communities 42 L222/1: 1–28Google Scholar
Leeb, T 2001 Aufstallung, Hygiene, Management und Gesundheit von Zuchtsauen und Ferkeln in biologisch bewirtschafteten Betrieben. Dissertation, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria [Title translation: Husbandry, hygiene, management and health of sows and piglets on organic farms]Google Scholar
Schmid, H 1992 Abferkelbuchten: ein neues Konzept. FAT-Bericht 417 [Title translation: The farrowing pen: a new concept]Google Scholar
Schneeberger, W, Eder, M and Posch, A 1997 Strukturanalyse der Biobetriebe in Österreich. Der Förderungsdienst — Spezial, 45. Jahrgang, Heft 12/97, 1-16. Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft: Wien, Austria [Title translation: Analysis of the structure of organic farms in Austria]Google Scholar
Weber, R and Schick, M 1996 Neue Abferkelbuchten ohne Fixation der Sau. FAT-Bericht 470 [Title translation: New farrowing pens without confinement of the sow]Google Scholar
Wiskott, W 1998 Untersuchungen über die Häufigkeit von Organveränderungen von Schlachtschweinen zur Etablierung eines Rückmeldesystems in einem oststeirischen Schlachtbetrieb. Dissertation, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria [Title translation: Investigation of the prevalence of organ lesions of slaughter pigs to implement a return information system in an abattoir in the Eastern Styria]: Investigation of the prevalence of organ lesions of slaughter pigs to implement a return information system in an abattoir in the Eastern Styria]Google Scholar