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Improved contribution of local feed to support 100% organic feed supply to pigs and poultry
Project
Project code: 2811OE021
Contract period: 01.10.2011
- 31.01.2015
Budget: 19,992 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Organic agriculture is a low external input system. Hence, livestock’s dietary nutrient supply should be of complete organic and of predominantly farm own origin. This is problematic for piglets due to their high nutrient requirement and simultaneous lack of organic feed with high protein quality. Therefore, 6 one-phase feeding strategies - 3 types of concentrate diets of various 100% organic feed composition (high, medium, and low external input type) combined with 2 roughages (grass-clover-silage or straw as organically obligatory roughage source) - are tested for piglets’ performance, health status, losses, and economy at the Thuenen-Institute of Organic Farming, Trenthorst, Germany. 24 litters per feeding strategy (1.509 piglets) are examined from day 14 – 63 post natum with a 7 week suckling period. High external input type (28% farm own origin) is a commercial concentrate diet for piglets with high energy and amino acid supply, medium external input type (78% farm own origin) is the Trenthorst own piglet diet with medium supply, and low external input diet (87% farm own origin) is the Trenthorst own diet for lactating sows with only marginal energy and amino acid supply for piglets. Performance is significantly influenced by the concentrate diet type but not by the roughage source.
Daily weight gain during the 49 day test period is at the same level for the commercial and for the Trenthorst own piglet diet (357g) and only 4% higher than compared to the lactating diet.
Medical treatments (4.4% of the piglets) and losses (2.5% of the piglets) are at a low level and independent from the 6 feeding strategies. The lactating diet and the Trenthorst piglet diet generate only 49% resp. 57% of the commercial diet costs for a piglet of standardised live weight. Lactating diet has lowest logistical impact. However, lactating diet strategy demands a high level of herd health and of management quality and is very strictly associated with an at least 7 week suckling period.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal nutrition
- Organic Farming
Collaborative Project
Improved contribution of local feed to support 100% organic feed supply to pigs and poultry (ICOPP)
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
