Organic livestock farming: potential and limitations of husbandry practice to secure animal health and welfare and food quality

Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming (SAFO) is an European Commission funded project, with the objective to contribute to improved animal health and food safety in organic livestock production systems in existing and candidate member countries of the European Union. Workshops form a central part of the SAFO activities. This volume, with the contributions to the 2nd SAFO Workshop in Witzenhausen, Germany in March 2004, is one in a series of five proceedings published during the lifetime of the project (2003-2006). Electronic version of the proceedings will also be available at the SAFO web-site at http://www.safonetwork. org/. The 2nd SAFO workshop focussed on the impact of farm level practices on animal health and quality aspects of organic livestock production. While most farm assurance schemes, including the organic farming certification, are primarily concerned with regulating the production system, the outcomes of the system, in terms of animal health and welfare, are particularly important in livestock production. The status quo assessments presented in the Workshop suggested that animal health and welfare outcomes of the organic production systems do not necessarily fulfil high consumer – or indeed animal – expectations. It was also suggested, that there may be particular problems in relation to the quality and safety of animal products, particularly in situations where regulations to achieve wider objectives – e.g. animal welfare - could have negative impact in relation to zoonotic diseases. Some of the speakers highlighted the inadequacies of the current inspection and certification systems, in terms of securing high levels of health and welfare in organic livestock systems. – Improved health planning, combined with a structured assessment of health and welfare outcomes, as part of certification, was suggested as a potential solution to these problems. Perhaps the most valuable offering of the 2nd SAFO Workshop was the wealth of information on husbandry, feeding and breeding techniques that are being developed for organic livestock production systems all over the Community. In spite of some formidable problems, marked strides forward are being taken by the farmers and their advisers in areas like improving the poultry husbandry, identifying suitable feeding and breeding strategies for dairy cows and controlling parasites with minimal medicine inputs. – One of the important tasks of the SAFO Network is to ensure that the messages from these projects are taken into consideration in the development of the EU Regulation on organic livestock production. Contents Part A: Organic animal health management and food quality at the farm level: Current state and future challenges Organic livestock production and food quality: a review of current status and future challenges M. Vaarst and M. Hovi Animal health in organic farming defined by experts- concept mapping and the interpretation of the concept of naturalnessl T. Baars, E. Baars and K. Eikmans Animal, welfare and health problem areas from an organic farmer’s point of view U. Schumacher A veterinarian’s perspective of animal health problems on organic farms. P. Plate Part B: Animal health and welfare: organic dairy production Swiss organic dairy milk farmer survey: which path for the organic cow in the future? E. Haas and B. Pabst Animal health in organic dairy farming – results of a survey in Germany. C. Winckler and J. Brinkmann Suckling as an alternative rearing system for replacement calves on dairy farms J. Langhout and J.-Paul Wagenaar Feeding strategies in Swiss organic farming to improve food quality and animal health B. Fruh The investigations of complex management: The story of bulk milk somatic cell counts and deep litter barns T. Baars and G. Smolders Udder health concepts that comply with organic principles – how to reduce therapies? M. Walkenhorst, C. Notz, P. Klocke, J. Spranger and F. Heil The relationship between worm burden and milk quality of goats R. Koopmann and K. Barth Part C: Animal health and welfare: organic beef and sheep production Problem areas in animal health and welfare on organic farms: Effects of pasture on animal health, welfare and performances of organic beef reared in Tuscany in Italy A. Martini, C. Sargentini, G. Lorenzini, V. Morrocchi, A. Giorgetti, C. Contini, L. Omodei-Zorini, V. Ferrante and A. Tellini Proposed husbandry practices to ensure animal health and product quality in organic sheep and goat production systems G. Arsenos, G. Banos, G. E. Valergakis, P. Fortomaris and D. Zygoyiannis Production effects at different systems of environmentally friendly grazing of fat heifers in the Carpathians S. Twardy, R. Kostuch, A. Kuzniar and I. Szewczyk Nutritional aspects of bioactive forages for worm control in organic sheep and goats H. Hoste, S. Athanasiadou, V. Paolini, F. Jackson, R.L. Coop, I Kyriazakis, E. Barrow, L. Fouraste, J. Valderrabano, J. Uriarte, M. Larsen, H. Mejer and S. Thamsborg Control of gastrointestinal nematodes in organic beef cattle through grazing management H. Hertzberg, R. Figi, F. Noto and F. Heckendorn Part D: Animal health and welfare: organic poultry production Organic broilers in the Netherlands T. B. Rodenburg et al. Health in free-range chickens - facts and fairy tales M. Bestmann Protein supply for organic poultry: options and short-comings W. Zollitsch How to motivate laying hens to use the hen run E. Zeltner Part E: Health and welfare assessment and certification at farm level Incorporation of existing animal welfare assessment techniques into organic certification and farming T. Leeb et al. Development of an advisory systems that supports good animal welfare in organic milk production in Norway B. Henriksen Development of organic livestock production and certification in Latvia J. Miculis Problems and challenges with the certification of organic pigs. A.Sundrum and M. Ebke Part F: Poster presentations Assessing dairy cow cleanliness, milk hygiene and mastitis incidence during winter housing on organic and conventional farms in the UK. K.A. Ellis, P.J. Cripps, M. Mihm, W. G. McLean, C. V. Howard and D. H. Grove-White Comparison of cattle production on organic and conventional farms in Poland. J. Zastawny, H. Jankowska-Huflejt and B. Wrobel The production of organic table birds in England: a study of commercial flocks. S. Roderick and W. Yates Reducing ammonia and mineral losses in organic pig production. S.G. Ivanova-Peneva and A.J.A. Aarnink Influence of forge on microbial activity in the hind gut of pigs and potential benefits to soil biology. W. Trejo-Lizama, M. Raubuch and A. Sundrum Methods to control parasite infections without recourse to antiparasitic drugs. A. Scossa, F. Saltalamacchia, C. Tripaldi and G. Gringoli Development of organic farming in Estonia. R. Lemming and M. Henno Animal production and marketing for the diffusion of organic farming in the natural parks of Tuscany in Italy. A. Martini, P. Migliorini, C. Zucchi, G. Lorenzini and S. Rosi Belliere Part G: Working group reports Animal health and welfare on the farm: Identification of common and countryspecific problems and potential solutions Solutions to farm level constraints in ensuring high health and welfare status Report from the SAFO Co-ordinator Mette Vaarst