TY - JOUR
T1 - Animal health, welfare and production problems in organic weaner pigs
AU - Leeb, Christine
AU - Hegelund, Lene
AU - Edwards, Sandra
AU - Mejer, Helena
AU - Roepstorff, Allan Knud
AU - Rousing, Tine
AU - Sundrum, Albert
AU - Bonde, Marianne
PY - 2014/10/1
Y1 - 2014/10/1
N2 - This paper reviews the available information on the different health and animal welfare issues in organic pigs in relation to weaning. It addresses the most relevant health and welfare problems and reviews their potential hazards and associated risk factors. Regarding health, problems related to post weaning diarrhoea, cold stress, skin lesions, endoparasites and post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome are described. Reasons for distress and frustration in weaned piglets are identified as mainly separation from the mother, a new environment, mixing and fear of humans. Finally, hazards and risk factors for health and welfare in organic weaners are related to animal characteristics, housing systems, feed/nutrition and management. Generally, it is concluded that diseases around weaning are multifactorial in nature, with several factors contributing simultaneously as stressors at the time of weaning. In order to solve problems around weaning, the complexity and the individuality of farm systems need to be taken into account.
AB - This paper reviews the available information on the different health and animal welfare issues in organic pigs in relation to weaning. It addresses the most relevant health and welfare problems and reviews their potential hazards and associated risk factors. Regarding health, problems related to post weaning diarrhoea, cold stress, skin lesions, endoparasites and post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome are described. Reasons for distress and frustration in weaned piglets are identified as mainly separation from the mother, a new environment, mixing and fear of humans. Finally, hazards and risk factors for health and welfare in organic weaners are related to animal characteristics, housing systems, feed/nutrition and management. Generally, it is concluded that diseases around weaning are multifactorial in nature, with several factors contributing simultaneously as stressors at the time of weaning. In order to solve problems around weaning, the complexity and the individuality of farm systems need to be taken into account.
KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
KW - Helath
KW - Organic
KW - Weaned piglet
KW - Welfare
U2 - 10.1007/s13165-013-0054-y
DO - 10.1007/s13165-013-0054-y
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1879-4238
VL - 4
SP - 123
EP - 133
JO - Organic Agriculture - Official journal of The International Society of Organic Agriculture Research
JF - Organic Agriculture - Official journal of The International Society of Organic Agriculture Research
IS - 2
ER -
