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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: [email protected]
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Abstract

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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

References

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