Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Animal health and welfare in production systems for organic fattening pigs

  • Published:
Organic Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With the aim to identify European health and welfare strategies in organic pig production, we summarized information about health and welfare status and potential hazards for organic fattening pigs. The results were primarily based on studies of organic production or comparisons between organic and conventional production. Conventional Danish herds consumed three times as much antibiotics (anthelmintics not included) as the organic herds, whilst there was no difference in mortality rate nor more pigs in need of treatment in the organic herds. Slaughter data indicated that organic pigs had fewer respiratory problems, skin lesions (including abscesses and hernias) and tail wounds compared to conventional pigs. On the other hand, remarks because of joint lesions and white spot livers were more common among organic pigs. The risk of parasitic infections in organic fattening pigs has been confirmed. To control endoparasites, outdoor areas should be rotated with as long interval as possible, i.e. by including the pigs in the crop rotation. Outdoor housing with functional wallows and access to grass and roots or outdoor runs and roughage can enhance pig welfare and reduce pen-mate-directed oral activity and aggression. Minimizing negative environmental impact may conflict with animal welfare, i.e. raising the pigs indoors may not only reduce plant nutrient losses but also reduce the pigs’ activity options. With an increasing number of specialized organic units, implementation of age-segregated production and buying piglets from only one or few units is necessary to maintain a good health in transferred pigs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andresen N (2000) The foraging pig. Resource utilisation, interaction, performance and behaviour of pigs in cropping systems. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae, Agraria 227.

  • Baumgartner J, Leeb T, Gruber T, Tiefenbacher R (2003) Husbandry and animal health on organic pig farms in Austria. Anim Welf 12:631–635

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beer RJS, Lean IJ (1973) Clinical Trichuriasis produced experimentally in growing pigs. Part I: pathology of infection. Vet Rec 93:189–195

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benfalk C, Lindgren K, Lindahl C, Rundgren M (2005) Mobile and stationary systems for organic pigs—animal behaviour in outdoor pens. Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). Researching Sustainable Systems. 21–23 Sep. 2005, Adelaide, South Australia, p 242–245.

  • Bernardo TM, Dohoo IR, Donald A, Ogilvie T, Cawthorn R (1990) Ascariasis, repsiratory diseases and production indices in selected Prince Edward Island swine herds. Can J Vet Res 54:267–273

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Beskow P, Norqvist M, Lundeheim N, Wallgren P (2003) Utomhusproduktion av grisar i Norrland. Svensk Veterinärtidning, Nr 4.

  • Bonde M, Baadsgaard NP, Sørensen JT (2005) Documentation of animal health in organic pig herds: a case study. Special Issue 281: 45–50, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research. Braunschweig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonde M, Hegelund L, Sørensen JT (2006) Sundhedstilstanden hos økologiske og konventionelle slagtesvin vurderet ud fra kødkontrolfund samt kliniske vurderinger på levende grise. Intern rapport. Sundhed og medicinforbrug hos økologiske og konventionelle slagtesvin. Husdyrbrug Nr1, Januar 2006. Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri. Danmarks JordbrugsForskning.

  • Brandt H, Werner DN, Baulain U, Brade W, Weissmann F (2010) Genotype-environment interactions for growth and carcass traits in different pig breeds kept under conventional and organic production systems. Animal 4:535–544

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burden DJ, Hammet NC, Brookes PA (1987) Field observations on the longevity of Trichuris suis ova. Vet Rec 121:43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carstensen L, Vaarst M, Roepstorff A (2002) Helminth infections in Danish organic swine herds. Vet Parasitol 106:253–264

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christensson DA (1996) Djurmiljö och parasitförekomst i utegrishållning – inventering på 12 gårdar. Jordbruksinformation 5:26–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Day JEL, Kelly H, Martins A, Edwards SA (2003) Towards a baseline assessment of organic pig welfare. Anim Welf 12:637–641

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Done SH (2000) The environment, microorganisms, anatomy and cellular defence of the respiratory tract: an epithelial battleground. Proceedings: 16th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, 2000: 85–93.

  • Edwards SA (2006) Tail biting in pigs: understanding the intractable problem. Vet J 171:198–199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2005) Scientific opinion of the panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) on the welfare of weaners and rearing pigs: effects of different space allowances and floor types. EFSA J 268:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Eijck IAJM, Borgsteede FHM (2005) A survey of gastrointestinal pig parasites on free-range, organic and conventional pig farms in The Netherlands. Vet Res Commun 29:407–441

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen J, Kristensen K (2001) Nutrient excretion by outdoor pigs: a case study of distribution, utilization and potential for environmental impact. Soil Use Manag 17:21–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farke A, Sundrum A (2005) Fattening pigs in an outdoor system as a part of the crop rotation within organic farming: growth performance and carcass yield. Special Issue 281: 25–30, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research. Braunschweig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Folestam S (2005) Performance and behaviour of growing/finishing pigs in organic production. Student diploma work no 208. Animal nutrition and Management. SLU, Uppsala, Sweden.

  • Foury A, Lebret B, Chevillon P, Vautier A, Terlouw C, Mormede P (2011) Alternative rearing systems in pigs: consequences on stress indicators at slaughter and meat quality. Animal 5:1620–1625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guy JH, Rowlinson P, Chadwick JP, Ellis M (2002) Health conditions of two genotypes of growing—finishing pig in three different housing systems: implications for welfare. Livest Prod Sci 75:233–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hale OM, Stewart TB, Marti OG, Wheat BE, McCormick WC (1981) Influence of an experimental infection of nodular worms (Oesophagostomum spp.) on performance of pigs. J Anim Sci 52:316–322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hegelund L, Bonde M, Sørensen JT (2006) Medicinforbrug og dødelighed i økologisk og konventionel slagtesvineproduktion. Intern rapport. Sundhed og medicinforbrug hos økologiske og konventionelle slagtesvin. Husdyrbrug Nr 1, Januar 2006. Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri. Danmarks JordbrugsForskning.

  • Heldmer E, Ekman S (2009) Varför har ekologiska grisar mer ledanmärkningar vid slakt än konventionellt uppfödda grisar? Rapport Statens Jordbruksverk Projekt nr 25-1135/07. Växtavdelningen, Jordbruksverket, Jönköping, Sverige. http://fou.sjv.se/fou/default.lasso

  • Heldmer E, Lundeheim N, Robertsson JÅ (2006) Sjukdomsfynd hos ekologiskt uppfödda grisar. Svensk Veterinärtidning 13(58):13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemsworth PH, Barnett JL, Hansen C (1987) The influence of inconsistent handling by humans on the behaviour, growth and corticosteroids of young pigs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 17:245–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermansen JE (2005) Integration of pig production into land use. Special Issue 281: 3–12, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds.) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research, Braunschweig, Germany

  • Herzog S, Früh B, Notz C (2006) Schweinehaltung: Beratung zurseit dringlicher als Forschung. Bioaktuell Nr 8.

  • Holmgren N, Lundeheim N (2002) Utveckling av uppfödningsformer och hälsa hos slaktsvin. Svensk Veterinärtidning Volym 54, nr 10: 469–474.

  • Høøk Presto M, Andersson HK, Wallgren P, Lindberg JE (2007) Influence of dietary amino acid level on performance, carcass quality and health of organic pigs reared indoors and outdoors. Acta Agriculturae Scand Section A 57:61–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hovi M, Sundrum A, Thamsborg SM (2003) Animal health and welfare in organic livestock production in Europe: current state and future challenges. Livest Prod Sci 80:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson M, Bornstein S, Wallgren P (1999) The efficacy of simplified eradication strategies against sarcoptic mange mite infections in swine herds monitored by an ELISA. Vet Parasitol 81:249–258

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen TK, Svensmark B (1996) Trichuriasis hos udendørs slagtesvin. Vet Inf 2:3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JC, Stewart TB, Hale OM (1975) Different responses of Duroc, Hamshire and crossbred pigs to a superimposed experimental infection with the intestinal threadworm, Stongylus ransomi. J Vet Parasitol 61:517–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen RJ, Roepstorff A (1991) Svin I det økologiske jordbrug—sundhed og sygdom. Dansk Veterinærtidskrift 74:409–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly HRC, Browning HM, Day JEL, Martins A, Pearce GP, Stopes C, Edwards SA (2007) Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions. J Sci Food Agric 87:2794–2800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krasnonos LN (1978) Prolonged survival of Ascaris lumbricoides L., 1758 ova in the soil in Samarkand. Meditsinskaya Parazitologicya i Parasitaryne Bolezni 47:103–105

    Google Scholar 

  • KRAV (2014) www.krav.se/kravs-regler

  • Kringel H, Roepstorff A (2006) Trichuris suis population dynamics following a primary experimental infection. Vet Parasitol 139:132–139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kugelberg C, Johansson G, Sjögren U, Bornstein S, Wallgren P (2001) Infektionssjukdomar och ektoparasiter hos slaktsvin. Svensk Veterinärtidning 53, Nr 4.

  • Laister S. (2002) Mastschweine-Freilandhaltung: Vergleichverschiedener genetischer Herkünfte unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Verhaltens. Diplomarbeit. Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien.

  • Laister S, Konrad S. (2005) Performance, carcasss and meat quality of different pig genotypes Special Issue 281: 13–18, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds.) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research, Braunschweig, Germany.

  • Leeb T, Baumgartner J (2000) Present status of pig fattening on selected organic farms in Austria. Animals in organic farming. In Proc. 13th International IFOAM Scientific Conference, Basel 28–31 Aug 2000, p 365.

  • Lindgren K, Lindahl C (2005) Mobile and stationary systems for organic pigs—animal welfare assessment in the fattening period. Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). Researching Sustainable Systems. 21–23 Sep. 2005, Adelaide, South Australia, p 592–595.

  • Lindgren K, Lindahl C, Höglund J, Roepstorff A (2008) Occurrence of intestinal helminths in two organic pig production systems. Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). Cultivating the future based on science.18-20 Jun. 2008, Modena Italy, Vol. 2: 202–205.

  • Lindsjö J (1997) Rutiner och hälsoläge i svensk slaktsvinsuppfödning utomhus. Svensk Veterinärtidning 49:581–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund V (1998) Ekologisk djurhållning. Ekologiskt lantbruk, fördjupning. Natur och Kultur/LT’s förlag.

  • Lund V, Algers B (2003) Research on animal health and welfare in organic farming—a literature review. Livest Prod Sci 80:55–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mejer H, Roepstorff A (2006) Ascaris suum infections in pigs born and raised on contaminated paddocks. Parasitology 133:305–312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millet S, Moons CPH, Van Oeckel MJ, Janssens GPJ (2005) Welfare, performance and meat quality of fattening pigs in alternative housing and management systems: a review. J Sci Food Agric 85:709–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nejsum P, Roepstorff A, Jørgensen CB, Fredholm M, Göring HHH, Anderson TJC, Thamsborg SM (2009) High heritability for Ascaris and Trichuris infection levels in pigs. Heredity 102:357–364

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen A (2001) Behaviour of growing pigs kept in pens with outdoor runs. I. Effect of access to roughage and shelter on oral activities. Livest Prod Sci 69:255–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parisini P, Martelli G (2003) Alimenti proteici ed energetici per monogastrici: vincoli e limiti. In: Stefanon B, Bani P (eds) Produzioni biologiche e qualità dei prodotti”, Associazione Scientifica di Produzione Animale”. Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy, pp 144–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen S, Saeed I (2001) Acquired immunity to Trichuris suis infection in pigs. Parasitology 123:95–101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Persson E, Andersson K, Andersson K (2004) Grovfoder har positiv inverkan på grisarnas beteende. Forskningsnytt om økologisk landbruk i Norden 3:8–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Prunier A, Brillouet A, Merlot E, Meunier-Salaun MC, Tallet C (2013) Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs. Animal 7:2035–2043

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quintern M (2005) Integration of organic pig production within crop rotation: implications on nutrient losses. Special Issue 281: 31–40, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds.) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research, Braunschweig, Germany.

  • Roepstorff A (2003) Ascaris suum in pigs: population biology and epidemiology. Doctorate Thesis, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark, p 227

    Google Scholar 

  • Roepstorff A, Murrell KD (1997) Transmission dynamics of helminth parasites of pigs on continous pasture: Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis. Int J Parasitol 27:563–572

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roepstorff A, Jörgensen RJ, Nansen P, Henriksen SA, Skovgaard Pedersen J, Andreasen M (1992) Parasitter hos økologiske svin. Rapport over projekt finansieret af Jordbrugsdirektoratet under Landbrugsministeriet. 36 pp.

  • Roepstorff A, Eriksen L, Slotved HC, Nansen P (1997) Experimental Ascaris suum infection in the pig: worm population kinetics following single inoculations with three doses of infective eggs. Parasitology 115:443–452

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salomon E, Åkerhielm H, Lindahl C, Lindgren K (2007) Outdoor pig fattening at two Swedish organic farms—spatial and temporal load of nutrients and potential environmental impact. Agr Ecosyst Environ 121:407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salomon E, Rodhe R, Malgeryd J, Lindgren K, Lindahl C (2012) Ammonia losses from outdoor pig fattening at two Swedish organic farms. Open Agric J 6:27–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saltalamacchia F, Vincenti F, Tripaldi C, Della Casa G (2004) Organic pig breeding. Breeds, feeding, hygiene aspects and type of housing. Rivista di Suinicoltura 45(11):75–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Skallerup P, Nejsum P, Jørgensen CB, Göring HHH, Karlskov-Mortensen P, Archibald AL, Fredholm M, Thamsborg SM (2012) Detection of a quantitative trait locus associated with resistance to Ascaris suum infections in pigs. Int J Parasitol 42:383–391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stolba A, Wood-Gush DGM (1989) The behaviour of pigs in a semi-natural environment. Anim Prod 48:419–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sundrum A, Ebke M (2004) Problems and challenges with the certification of organic pigs. In: Hovi M, Sundrum A, Padel S (eds) Proceedings of the 2nd SAFO-Workshop. University Kassel, Germany, pp 193–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallet C, Brillouet A, Meunier-Salaun MC, Paulmier V, Guerin C, Prunier A (2013) Effects of neonatal castration on social behaviour, human-animal relationship and feeding activity in finishing pigs reared in a conventional or an enriched housing. Appl Anim Behav Sci 145:70–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terlouw C, Berne A, Astruc T (2009) Effect of rearing and slaughter conditions on behaviour, physiology and meat quality of Large White and Duroc-sired pigs. Livest Sci 122:199–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thamsborg SM, Nejsum P, Mejer H (2013) Impact of Ascaris suum in livestock. In: Celia Holland (ed) Ascaris the neglected parasite. Elsevier, p 363–381.

  • Tuyttens FAM (2005) The importance of straw for pig and cattle welfare: a review. Appl Anim Behav Sci 92:261–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker PK, Bilkei G (2006) Veterinary journal (London, England: 1997). Mars 171(2):367–369

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallenbeck A, Rydhmer L, Lundeheim N (2009) GxE interactions for growth and carcass leanness: re-ranking of boars in organic and conventional pig production. Livest Sci 123:154–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallgren P, Artursson K, Fossum C, Alm GV (1993) Incidence of infections in pigs bred for slaughter revealed by elevated serum levels of interferon and development of antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. J Vet Med B 40:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallgren P, Wilén I-L, Fossum C (1994) Influence of experimentally induced endogenous production of cortisol on the immune capacity in swine. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 42:301–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallgren P, Hasslung F, Bergström G, Linder A, Belák K, Hård af Segerstad C, Stampe M, Molander B, Björnberg Kallay T, Nörregård E, Ehlorsson CJ, Thörnquist M, Fossum C, Allan GM, Robertsson JÅ (2004) Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome—PMWS. The first year with the disease in Sweden. Vet Q 26(4):170–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman F, Biedermann G, Klitzing A (2005) Performance, carcass and meat quality of different pig genotypes in an extensive outdoor fattening system on grass clover in organic farming. Special Issue 281: 19–24, Organic pig production in free range systems. In: Sundrum A, Weissmann F (eds.) Landbauforschung Völkenrode – FAL Agricultural Research, Braunschweig, Germany.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The present text was written within the framework of the Corepig project which was one (project no. 1904) of the eight research projects selected for transnational funding by the partners of the CORE Organic ERA-net project (Coordination of European Transnational research in organic Food and Farming, EU PF6 project no. 011716). The authors gratefully acknowledge the national funders for their financial support as well as the rest of the COREPIG project group for their contribution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. JTI—Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, P. O. Box 7033, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Kristina Lindgren

  2. Agricultural Research Council (CRA), Modena, Italy

    Davide Bochicchio

  3. Department of Animal Health and Bioscience, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    Lene Hegelund

  4. Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

    Christine Leeb

  5. Danish Centre of Experimental Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Helena Mejer & Allan Roepstorff

  6. Department of Animal Nutrition and Animal Health, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany

    Albert Sundrum

Authors
  1. Kristina Lindgren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Davide Bochicchio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lene Hegelund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christine Leeb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Helena Mejer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Allan Roepstorff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Albert Sundrum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristina Lindgren.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lindgren, K., Bochicchio, D., Hegelund, L. et al. Animal health and welfare in production systems for organic fattening pigs. Org. Agr. 4, 135–147 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0069-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0069-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation