Lyngflis som rodemateriale til økologiske slagtesvin

Lyngflis er et affaldsprodukt fra hedepleje, som kan anvendes som rode- og beskæftigelsesmateriale til grise. Hos Bertel Hesbjerg er de velfærdsmæssige effekter heraf undersøgt ved at registrere halebid og skader på grise med hhv. permanent, restriktiv og ingen adgang til lyngflis

Was Personalverantwortlichen heute wirklich Sorgen bereitet: Ergebnisse der Personalleiterbefragung Herbst 2012

[Ausgangslage] Einer der Megatrends, die unsere Welt tiefgreifend verändern, ist der demographische Wandel, der mit einem langfristigen Rückgang der Bevölkerungszahl und einer längeren Lebensarbeitszeit einhergeht. Dies wird in allen Bereichen des privaten und beruflichen Lebens spürbar sein und sich nicht nur auf die gerne diskutierten Themen des Fachkräftemangels und der Altersarmut beschränken. Die Individualisierung, die dazu führt, dass mehr Möglichkeiten zur persönlichen Selbstverwirklichung zu zentralen Wettbewerbsfaktoren beim Kampf um Talente auf dem Arbeitsmarkt und Kunden werden, ist ein weiterer Megatrend. Doch was sind die konkreten Folgen hiervon? Immer mehr Unternehmen werden einen Talent-Engpass erleben, insbesondere bei Fach- und Führungskräften. Sie werden in einen Wettstreit um die besten Talente eintreten, wobei viele Unternehmen feststellen werden, dass sie nicht bekannt und attraktiv genug als Arbeitgeber wahrgenommen werden. Personalverantwortliche und Branchenverbände werden sich immer öfter Gedanken machen, wie sie eine Arbeitgebermarke aufbauen und diese auf spezielle Zielgruppen abstimmen können. Unternehmen werden feststellen, dass es zukünftig viel leichter sein wird, Kapital zu beschaffen, als Talente zu finden. Dies liegt auch daran, dass durch die Individualisierung die Ansprüche der jungen Generation und ihre weltweite Mobilität immer höher werden. Eine Studie von Hewitt hat ergeben, dass bereits im Jahr 2010 mehr als 70% der Unternehmen einen Talent-Engpass sehen und fast 50% befürchten, für Bewerber nicht mehr attraktiv genug zu sein

Landbrugsskolelærere bedre klædt på til øko-undervisning

På temadag besøgte en række undervisere »Hestbjerg Økologi«, hvor indehaver Bertel Hestbjerg viste rundt på sin bedrift og fortalte om økologisk svineproduktion. Den viden skal nu ud i undervisningsledde

Effect of nose ringing and stocking rate of pregnant and lactating outdoor sows on exploratory behavior, grass cover and nutrient loss potential

Nose ringing of outdoor sows is practiced to reduce grass sward damage for environmental reasons but conflicts with natural behaviour considerations. We investigated effects of ringing pregnant and lactating outdoor sows on foraging and explorative behaviour, grass cover and nutrient deposition. The experiment included both ringed and unringed sows. For unringed sows the paddocks were either used continuously throughout the experiment or divided into two and sows were moved half way through the experimental period leaving the first used paddock for regrowth. Ringing did not prevent the sow’s rooting, but rooting was less pronounced, when sows were ringed. On average, ringing increased grass cover from 14 to 38% and from 64 to 81% in paddocks with pregnant and lactating sows, respectively. In paddocks with unringed sows kept at a double density and followed by a resting period, the grass cover in autumn was restored to a high degree in paddocks with pregnant sows. In lactating sow paddocks the level of inorganic N was high but with no significant relation to extent of grass cover. In pregnant sow paddocks the soil inorganic N content was significantly reduced by increased grass cover and at 60% grass cover soil inorganic N content was at a low level. From the experiment it was evident that although ringing did have a positive environmental effect, it was not the main factor influencing potential losses. Management choices in terms of feeding, animal density and nutrient distribution are considered to be at least as important

Faremarksmanual

Faremarksmanualen henvender sig til personer, der har ansvaret for – eller arbejder i faremarken. Faremarksmanualen er en vejledning til at opnå det bedst mulige produktionsresultat. Manualen omhandler perioden fra etablering af farefolden til fravænning af pattegrisene. Beskrivelser og anvisninger i manualen er baseret på forskningsresultater, lærebøger og erfaringer

Potential loss of nutrients from different rearing strategies for fattening pigs on pasture

Nutrient load and distribution on pasture were investigated with fattening pigs that: 1) spend a proportion of or their entire life on pasture, 2) were fed either restrictively or ad libitum, and 3) were weaned at different times of the year. The N and P retention in pigs decreased the longer they were kept on pasture. The contents of soil inorganic N and exchangeable K were significantly raised compared to the soil outside the enclosures but with no differences between treatments. Pig grazing did not affect extractable soil P. Regular moving of huts, feeding and water troughs was effective in ensuring that nutrients were more evenly distributed on the paddocks. Grass cover, as determined by spectral reflectance, was not related to the experimental treatments but only to time of year. During spring and summer, grass was present in parts of the paddocks, whereas during autumn and winter the pigs kept grass cover below 10%. Fattening pigs on pasture carries a high risk of nutrient loss and it is concluded that the most environmentally acceptable way of keeping fattening pigs on pasture involves a combination of reduced dietary N intake, reduced stocking rate and seasonal rather than all year production

Feeding monogastrics 100% organic and regionally produced feed

The transition to 100% organic feed ingredients for organic livestock is expected to take effect from January 1st 2020 in Europe. In order to contribute to the goal of 100% use of organic and regional feed for monogastrics, this knowledge synthesis “Feeding monogastrics 100% organic and regionally produced feed“ aims to describe: • the protein need for organic monogastric animals (pigs, layers and broilers), including different breeds and rearing conditions • different protein feed resources, mostly new or not commonly used protein sources, their nutrient content, production prerequisites, and their potential feeding value • small-scale, on-farm equipment for feed processing • different feeding strategies. The knowledge synthesis should enable participants in Innovation groups (IG) and Thematic groups (TG) to choose feed materials, feeding strategies, breeds and perhaps even small-scale on-farm equipment for testing when aiming at 100% organic and regionally produced feed for monogastrics. In the knowledge synthesis it is concluded: When feeding pigs and poultry 100% organic and regionally produced feed, getting enough protein and specific amino acids is a challenge. There are two ways to go and they can be combined. One is to utilize by-products, for example waste from various productions, and explore new protein sources e.g. marine products or to refine already known products such as grass. The other way is to feed the animals less intensively and for this feeding strategy slow-growing breeds fit better. Some slow-growing breeds are already known, some are rediscovered old breeds. The challenge with the slow-growing and less-yielding breeds is that the production is getting smaller and either the farmer will earn less or the prices of eggs and meat will increase. However, the possibilities for combinations of regionally grown feed, low-yielding breeds with different feeding strategies are many and they need to be explored. Finally, the knowledge synthesis identify needs for new knowledge on: • nutritional requirements of alternative breeds. Precise nutrient recommendations for organically produced pigs and poultry do not exist. • nutritional value of new protein sources for monogastric animals • various combinations of breeds, grazing and supplemental feed. Small-scale on-farm equipment to refine locally produced raw materials needs to be developed

Bestial boredom: a biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation

Boredom is likely to have adaptive value in motivating exploration and learning, and many animals may possess the basic neurological mechanisms to support it. Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and understimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioural flexibility. Wild and domesticated animals are at particular risk in captivity, which is often spatially and temporally monotonous. Yet biological research into boredom has barely begun, despite having important implications for animal welfare, the evolution of motivation and cognition, and for human dysfunction at individual and societal levels. Here I aim to facilitate hypotheses about how monotony affects behaviour and physiology, so that boredom can be objectively studied by ethologists and other scientists. I cover valence (pleasantness) and arousal (wakefulness) qualities of boredom, because both can be measured, and I suggest boredom includes suboptimal arousal and aversion to monotony. Because the suboptimal arousal during boredom is aversive, individuals will resist low arousal. Thus, behavioural indicators of boredom will, seemingly paradoxically, include signs of increasing drowsiness, alongside bouts of restlessness, avoidance and sensation-seeking behaviour. Valence and arousal are not, however, sufficient to fully describe boredom. For example, human boredom is further characterized by a perception that time ‘drags’, and this effect of monotony on time perception can too be behaviourally assayed in animals. Sleep disruption and some abnormal behaviour may also be caused by boredom. Ethological research into this emotional phenomenon will deepen understanding of its causes, development, function and evolution, and will enable evidence-based interventions to mitigate human and animal boredom