Lameness prevalence and its risk factors in organic breeding sows kept in housing systems with run for animals
Description:
The present research proposal aims at assessing lameness prevalence in organic sows as well as identifying potential risk factors for lameness. The project focuses on sows in organic farms with access to an outdoor run. Sows have been chosen since they are kept for a longer period of time as compared with fattening pigs and therefore influencing factors from the housing environment may have a greater impact on them. Furthermore, leg health is a prerequisite for productivity and longevity. In the preparatory phase, different gait scoring systems will be identified from the literature and tested with regard to reliability and feasibility in the on-farm context. Also, farms which are willing to cooperate (criteria for inclusion: minimum flock size 20 sows, certified since at least two years) will be identified. 50 farms will then be visited once and lameness and leg health will be assessed on an individual level. Multivariate statistics will be used to subsequently identify significant risk factors for lameness from housing and management factors. The results may be used for advisory purposes.
Executive Institute:
Institute of Organic Farming (TI-OL) Details of Institute of Organic Farming
Parent institution:
Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut - Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries (TI) Details of (TI) (Lower Saxony)
Contract period:
01. 01. 2012 - 31. 12. 2013
Project budget:
109,124 €
Funding Programme:
- BMELV - BÖLN - Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture Details of BMELV - BÖLN - Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture
Subject:
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
Purpose of research:
Applied research
Funding Institutions:
- Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) Details of (BMELV)
Project Management Agency:
- Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) Details of BLE