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

Knowledge synthesis: Animal health and welfare in organic pig production - Final Report COREPIG

This report reviews the available information on the welfare of pigs when maintained according to organic standards in Europe. It begins by overviewing the populations of organic pigs in different countries at the time of writing (2007), the organic standards which govern their management and the systems in which they are typically kept. It then reviews for each stage in the production cycle (sows, suckling piglets, weaned pigs and fattening pigs) the available literature on health and welfare problems which might be experienced by the animals and the hazards which might give rise to these problems. Finally the report reviews the methods current available for the measurement of pig health and welfare and the extent to which monitoring systems currently exist in different countries, or might be developed. The information gathered in this review formed the basis for the subsequent development of tools for use in a HACCP based management and surveillance system for organic pig herds. These tools will assist the organic pig farmer to prevent selected pig diseases and welfare problems by monitoring and controlling the risk factors. Further details can be found on the COREPIG project website www.icrofs.org/coreorganic/corepig.htm

La production biologique de porcs en Europe - Gestion de la santé des porcs dans les élevages de production

Les éleveurs de porcs biologiques ont développé en Europe différents systèmes de logement qui dépendent de la disponibilité des terres, des caractéristiques du sol et du climat, des traditions et des schémas de certification. Ce guide décrit les principaux systèmes de logement des porcs biologiques. Il compare les avantages et les inconvénients de chacun et donne des recommandations aux éleveurs pour mieux agir sur la santé des animaux

Valorisation de l'herbe par les truies élevées en plein air. Synthèse des essais menés dans les Pays de la Loire et ... la station des Trinottières de 1996 ... 2003

National audienc

Molecular-genetic analysis of Alectoris partridge populations of the western Mediterranean islands

Les espèces du genre Alectoris qui habitent la Méditerranée, c’est-à-dire la perdrix rouge (Alectoris rufa) (PR), la perdrix bartavelle (A. graeca), la perdrix gambra (A. barbara) (PG), et la perdrix choukar (A. chukar) (PC), sont incluses dans la liste des “Espèces d’intérêt européen pour la conservation” (SPEC), à cause de la sévère pression de chasse et de la pollution génétique. En effet, la pratique illégale du croisement artificiel parmi ces espèces, permet de produire des animaux hybrides plus prolifiques et forts. Du moment que la vente aussi que le change sont une pratique routinière entre les élevages et les maisons de chasse au cours des repeuplements, la pollution génétique des populations sauvages est désormais considérable, surtout à la frontière entre la France et l’Italie, et en Grèce. Au-dedans du projet Interreg III, qui vise à l’analyse génetico-moléculaire des perdreaux du genre Alectoris dans l’ensemble Corse-Toscane Livournaise, PRs de l’île de Pianosa (Parc National de l’Archipel Toscane, n = 14) aussi que de régions de haute montagne (Nessa-Feliceto, Lozzi, Reginu, Fium’Orbu-Taravu: n = 22) et d’élevage de la Corse (Carbuccia, n = 6), ont été étudiées avec des PGs aussi échantillonnées en Sardaigne, sur le territoire (provinces de Nuoro et Oristano: n = 4) et dans différentes élevages (Bonassai, Oliena, Monastir: n = 3). Le séquençage de l’entière Région de Contrôle (près de 1155 pb) et de la plupart du gène Cytochrome b (1092/1143 pb) de l’ADN mitochondriale, a montré la présence des lignes maternelles de la PR et de la PC dans les populations de Pianosa et de la Corse, tandis que la seule ligne de la PG a été trouvée en Sardaigne. L’analyse aux marqueurs RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA), a montré que le 93% et 65% des individus échantillonnés à Pianosa et en Corse, respectivement, sont hybrides entre la PR et la PC, tandis que la population de PG n’a pas encore été analysée. Dans ce cadre général de diffuse pollution génétique, on peut affirmer que le génome naissant de la PR semble virtuellement disparu de la Méditerranée centrale. En plus, les résultats préliminaires reportés, démontrent que la Sardaigne représente une ressource de biodiversité qui paraît encore intègre. Donc, les populations sardes de PG devraient être mises sous contrôle pour permettre des repeuplements sûrs et sauver leur génome

Free communications on Pig Production 1 EAAP 2009. S20-2, Are organic farming systems sustainable ? 60th Annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production Fira de Barcelona

Abstract 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 (p<0.01), whereas feed intake was similar between treatments for Exp.1 and Exp2. Daily weight gains (g/d) for pigs offered the control and the CP diets were respectively of 673 and 669 in Exp.1 (p>0.05), 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

Knowledge dynamics, firm strategy, mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology based sectors

In this article, a method to map the knowledge base (KB) of firms is developed and applied to the study of strategic changes, mergers and acquisitions. The empirical data are related to three firms, Hoechst, Rhone-Poulenc and Aventis, which resulted from the merger of the first two. Our study shows how the KB of both Hoechst and Rhone-Poulenc changed gradually reflecting their strategic reorientation away from chemistry and towards the life sciences. While the previous transition produced a segmented KB with the chemistry and biology subsets largely separated, the merger led a more closely integrated KB. The KB of some Aventis subsidiaries have been studied as well.Knowledge base, Lexicographic analysis, Patents, Mergers, Strategy,

Steroidome and metabolome analysis in gilt saliva to identify potential biomarkers of boar effect receptivity

Optimal management of gilt reproduction requires oestrus synchronization. Hormonal treatments are used for this purpose, but there is a growing demand for non-hormonal alternatives, especially in organic farms. The boar effect is an important alternative opportunity to induce and synchronize oestrus without hormones. Before puberty, gilts exhibit a 'waiting period' during which boar exposure could induce and synchronize the first ovulation. We searched for salivary biomarkers of this period of boar effect receptivity to improve detection of the gilts to stimulate with the perspective of enhancing the efficacy of the boar effect. Saliva samples were collected from 30 Large-White×Landrace crossbred gilts between 140 and 175 days of age. Gilts were exposed twice a day to a boar and subjected to oestrus detection from 150 to 175 days of age. Among the 30 gilts, 10 were detected in oestrus 4 to 7 days after the first introduction of the boar and were considered receptive to the boar effect, 14 were detected in oestrus more than 8 days after first boar contact, and six did not show oestrus and were considered non-receptive. Saliva samples from six receptive and six non-receptive gilts were analyzed for steroidome and for metabolome using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Four saliva samples per gilt were analyzed: 25 days and 11 days before boar introduction, the day of boar introduction, 3 days later for receptive gilts or 7 days later for non-receptive gilts. Twenty-nine steroids and 31 metabolites were detected in gilt saliva. Salivary concentrations of six steroids and three metabolites were significantly different between receptive and non-receptive gilts: progesterone and glycolate 25 days before boar introduction, 3α5β20α- and 3β5α20β-hexahydroprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenediol, succinate, and butyrate 11 days before boar introduction, and 3β5α-tetrahydroprogesterone on the day of boar introduction. Thus, nine potential salivary biomarkers of boar effect receptivity were identified in our experimental conditions. Further studies with higher numbers of gilts and salivary sampling points are necessary to ascertain their reliability