Effects of increasing the farm produced content in organic feeds on pig performances

In three experimental facilities (Exp.1, 2 and 3), two organic diets, one complex including processed feedstuffs as wheat bran and heat-treated soya beans (control), the other simplified and containing over 80 % of cereal and pulses (CP), were compared for growing-finishing pigs. The base components of the CP diets were moist maize grain, wheat and faba beans in Exp.1, triticale plus coloured-flowered peas in Exp.2, and triticale, oats, white-flowered peas and faba beans in Exp.3. The diets were formulated with similar energetic values and a lysine content (0.70 g ileal digestible lysine /MJ NE) 20 % lower than the conventional mean requirement for growing pigs. However, the CP diet had a lysine proportion 30% lower than requirement in Exp.1 and did not achieve the ideal protein pattern in Exp. 2 and 3. Diets were given in all experiments from 35 to 115 kg according to a feeding plan. Respectively 96, 100 and 80 pigs were used in Exp.1, 2 and 3 and were blocked in straw bedded pens of 4, 25 and 40. In Exp.1, pigs receiving the control diet had a lower average feed intake than those offered the CP diet (p0.05), 760 and 719 in Exp.2 (p=0.04) and 684 and 677 in Exp.3 (p>0.05). The feed conversion rate (g/g) was high and reached respectively 3.28 and 3.41 in Exp.1 (p=0.01), 3.2 and 3.,4 in Exp.2, 3.3 and 3.4 in Exp.3. The lean meat rate did not differ significantly in Exp.1, 2 and 3, for pigs given control and CP diets. The study underlines that with a moderate growth objective, an organic feed with a low energetic and protein concentration can yield a satisfying lean meat rate. In spite of a tendency for lower performances, especially concerning the feed conversion rate, a simplified diet based on cereal and pulses can be used, taking into account its economical interest for organic pig production

The Performance Effect of Environmental Innovations

While recent literature has focused on explaining the determinants of green innovations, it is not well understood how such innovations affect performance. To analyse the relationship between green innovation and performance, new industry-level panel data were exploited: these include 12 OECD countries, the whole manufacturing sector and a period of 30 years. The results show that green inventions are U-shape related to performance. However, the turning point is quite high and hence only relevant for a few industries. This indicates that - given the current level of green promotion - market incentives alone are not sufficient to allow the green invention activities of industries to rise considerably

The Role of Demand in Fostering Product vs Process Innovation: A Model and an Empirical Test

While the extant innovation literature has provided extensive evidence of the so-called "demand-pull" effect, the possible diverse impact of demand evolution on product vs process innovation activities has not been yet investigated. This paper develops a formal model predicting a larger inducing impact of past sales in fostering product rather than process innovation. This prediction is then tested through a dynamic microeconometric model, controlling for R&D persistence, sample selection, observed and unobservable individual firm effects and time and sectoral peculiarities. Results are consistent with the model and suggest that an expansionary economic policy may benefit the diffusion of new products or even the emergence of entire new sectors