The QLIF project has targeted a variety of issues to make organic animal production (dairy cattle, pig, poultry) more safe, develop alternative methods to promote animal health and improve product quality. This workshop will discuss these aims as well as the QLIF achievements to date. It will also address our way of assessing the quality of our organic farms. We ask the question what the advantages are of doing this by looking at the output of a farm, such as yield, animal welfare and environmental issues. Alternatively, we also want to know what benefits there are in looking at how the farm is organised, via input factors such as housing design, nutrition, management quality. Two invited speakers will state their preference. Legislation, certification and consumer perceptions wil be addressed

Biavati, Bruno

Borgsteede, Fred

Davies, David

Klocke, Peter

Maurer, Veronika

Mejer, Helena

Modesto, Monica

Nagel, Philip

Nicholas, P.

Spoolder, Hans

Strozzi, Gian Paolo

Sundrum, Albert

Thamsborg, Stig M.

van Krimpen, Marinus

Vermeer, Herman

Wagenaar, Jan-Paul T. M.

Zollitsch, Werner

A range of challenges associated with organic and other ‘low input’ (especially outdoor) livestock production systems have been identified. These include the need to identify alternative approaches for the control of parasites and gastrointestinal diseases to further reduce veterinary medicine use and antibiotic/anthelmintic resistance development. QLIF workshop 3 will summarise the fourth year’s results of the livestock subproject (SP4) of the QualityLowInputFood IP. At the same time, it will contribute to the discussion on how organic livestock farming systems are being evaluated: by their design (input) or by their performance (output). This paper summarises QLIF results from SP4 in the context of current scientific knowledge

Spoolder, H.A.M.

Biavati, B.

Borgsteede, F.H.M.

Davies, D.

Klocke, P.

Maurer, V.

Nagel, P.

Krimpen, M.M., van

Mejer, H.E.

Modesto, M.

Strozzi, G.P.

Thamsborg, S.M.

Vermeer, H.M.

Wagenaar, J.

Zollitsch, W.

Sundrum, A.

Name not available

Performance of organic and low input livestock systems: a matter of sound design?

van Krimpen, M.M.

NARCIS 

Aberystwyth Research Portal

Nicholas, Phillipa

Strozzi, Gian  Paolo

Thamsborg, Stig Milan

Wagenaar, Jan-Paul

Organic Eprints

German

Wageningen Yield 

16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008 
Archived at http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html 
 
 
QLIF Workshop 4: Performance of organic and low input 
livestock systems: a matter of sound design?1 
Hans Spoolder2, Bruno Biavati3, Fred Borgsteede2, David Davies4, Peter Klocke5, 
Veronika Maurer5, Philip Nagel6, Phillipa Nicholas4, Marinus van Krimpen2, Helena 
Mejer7, Monica Modesto3, Gian Paolo Strozzi8, Stig Milan Thamsborg7, Herman 
Vermeer2, Jan-Paul Wagenaar9, Werner Zollitsch6 and Albert Sundrum10 
Key words: endoparasites, ectoparasites, enteric pathogens, sensory quality, amino 
acid balances 
Abstract  
A range of challenges associated with organic and other ‘low input’ (especially 
outdoor) livestock production systems have been identified. These include the need to 
identify alternative approaches for the control of parasites and gastrointestinal 
diseases to further reduce veterinary medicine use and antibiotic/anthelmintic 
resistance development. QLIF workshop 3 will summarise the fourth year’s results of 
the livestock subproject (SP4) of the QualityLowInputFood IP. At the same time, it will 
contribute to the discussion on how organic livestock farming systems are being 
evaluated: by their design (input) or by their performance (output). This paper 
summarises QLIF results from SP4 in the context of current scientific knowledge. 
Introduction  
Organic production systems aim to provide various benefits to society. These benefits 
are associated with the four main principles of IFOAM: Health, Ecology, Fairness and 
Care (IFOAM, 2005). Implementation of these principles into organic livestock 
systems involves careful study on how housing and management factors affect the 
health and welfare of animals, the environment we live in and the farmer’s income. 
This is not an easy task, as the underlying housing and management techniques used 
to make the principles operational do not always complement each other (Hovi et al 
2003; Cooper et al 2007). This is the main reason why there are still a number of 
technological restraints in organic livestock production systems, which affect quality 
and safety of organic and “low input” foods as well as the cost of production (Spoolder 
                                                 
1 The full version of this paper is archived at www.orgprints.org/13351 
2Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB, 
Lelystad, The Netherlands. Please contact: Hans.Spoolder@wur.nl 
3 Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali, Via Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy 
4 Aberystwyth University, Old College, King Street, Aberystwyth, UK 
5 Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland 
6 Universität für Bodenkultur, Gregor Mendel Straße 33, A-1180 Wien, Austria 
7 Dept. of Vet. Pathobiology, University of Copenhagen, Noerregade 10, Copenhagen, Demark 
8 Probiotical, S.r.l. Via Mattei 3, 28100 Novara, Italy 
9 Louis Bolk Instituut, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands 
10 Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Animal Health, 
37213 Witzenhausen, Germany 
 
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008 
Archived at http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html 
 
 
et al. 2007). The QualityLowInputFood (QLIF) project aims to address some of the 
most relevant gaps in our knowledge when taking up this challenge. The gaps relate 
to: (a) the control of endo- and ecto-parasites (WPs 4.1 and 4.2, (b) alternatives to 
antibiotics for the control of gastrointestinal infections and mastitis (WPs 4.3 and 4.5), 
(c) feeding regimes which improve meat quality and minimise amino acid imbalances 
in monogastric production systems (WP4.4) and (d) the problem of negative energy 
balances in dairy systems, while improving milk quality (WP4.5).  
Output and contribution of the QLIF project to the state-of-the-art 
WP4.1 Improved preventive strategies for controlling endo- and ectoparasites 
and bacterial zoonoses of pigs and poultry. 
POULTRY The risk of parasitic infections is increased in hens in free-range systems 
compared to systems without outdoor access (Permin et al, 1999). Improvements in 
run management and reducing the stocking density from 5m2 / hen to 10 m2 / hen can 
significantly reduce faecal egg counts FEC of the two helminth species of poultry 
(Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum) on outdoor runs. Experiments on the effect 
of litter management on litter infectivity and transmission of A. galli and H. gallinarum 
as well as feeding trials with potential anthelmintic plants are ongoing. 
PIGS - Ascaris suum is the most prevalent helminth on organic pig farms (Carstensen 
et al., 2002) and is transmitted mainly via the faeces. A first study therefore focused 
on assessing the efficacy of different protocols for cleaning the dunging area of pigs 
on Ascaris suum transmission to pigs. Experiments are ongoing, but preliminary 
results suggest that improved cleaning protocols alone are not able to reduce Ascaris 
infections, but should be part of a package of measures against Ascaris. A second 
study quantified the effect of dietary inclusion of dried chicory roots on 
Oesophagostomum spp. infections in naturally infected sows and boars, since pilot 
studies had shown that dietary inclusion of dried chicory roots may reduce infection 
and egg excretion levels in pigs (Spoolder et al., 2007). Dried chicory abolished egg 
excretion within 2-6 days, but after withdrawal of the chicory faecal egg counts 
increased. Nevertheless, overall egg excretion remained significantly below that of the 
control animals in both trials and can therefore be recommended for use strategic use 
in organic and ‘low input’ pig production systems. 
WP4.2 Alternative treatment strategies for controlling endo- and ectoparasites 
of pigs and poultry. 
POULTRY Control of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae is a challenge for 
organic as well as conventional egg producers. A range of alternative treatments 
including diatomaceous earth supplemented with pyrethrum and essential oils, a liquid 
formulation of silica were tested in vitro and tests with plant extracts and different oil 
types are ongoing. In on farm experiments, diatomaceous earth was effective during a 
limited period only, whereas 2 liquid formulations of silicas had a very good residual 
effect against red mite. 
PIGS In organic pig farms, this percentage of pig livers that need to be condemned 
due to Ascaris suum is often higher than in conventional pig farms. To reduce the use 
of synthetic drugs (e.g. benzimidazoles, levamisole and macrocyclic lactones) herbal 
preparations were tested for the prevention and control of a mild infection of Ascaris 
suum in growing and finishing pigs. While not decreasing the number of infected pigs 
some herbal treatment reduced the average number of worms in the gastro intestinal 
tract. Studies currently focus on identifying the suitable period to supply this herb 
mixture to sows and the potential of combining herbal remedies with reduced doses of 
veterinary drugs. 
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008 
Archived at http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html 
 
 
WP4.3 Methods to augment non-immune system based defence mechanisms 
against gastrointestinal diseases in the pig. 
Probiotic Bifidobacterium strains, prebiotic and acidified nitrite supplements were 
assessed for their potential to control gastrointestinal pathogens causing diarrhoea in 
pigs. The ability of microencapsulated probiotic strains to pass through the acid barrier 
of the stomach and establish increased population density in the intestine was 
demonstrated. However, although antimicrobial activity of acidified nitrite treatments 
and the ability of probiotic strains to inhibit enteric pathogens was demonstrated in 
vitro (Biavati et al. 2007), this could not so far be confirmed in experiments in vivo. 
Also supplementing organic growing-finishing pigs with maize silage, grass silage or a 
probiotic preparation did not significantly affect performance and carcass traits. 
 
WP4.4 Strategies to improve sensory quality and food safety of pork without the 
use of amino-acid supplements, while improving production efficiency within 
organic farming conditions. 
Due to the restricted availability of limited amino acids in organic livestock production 
protein accretion capacity is limited compared to conventional production. Sensory 
quality of pork is to a high degree influenced by the intramuscular fat (IMF) content 
and previous studies showed that pig diets were the main source of variation for the 
IMF content in pork. In on-farm trials the effect of the implementation of a specific 
feeding strategy using a high portion of home-grown grain legumes on the IMF content 
of pork, was assessed under different conditions on German and Austrian organic 
farms. Results showed that different to previous feeding regimes had no significant 
influence on the IMF but that there was great variation between the farms for IMF. It 
was therefore concluded that there is a need for a direct assessment of IMF-content of 
pork at the abattoir to fulfil the expectations of consumers with regard to a high eating 
quality of organic pork. 
 
WP4.5 Efficient farm/farmer group specific mastitis prevention plans. 
The objective of this ongoing study is to identify the main factors influencing udder 
health in organic dairy farms under different climatic and structural conditions. Results 
show that improvement of housing/environmental conditions and farmers’ skills allow a 
partial conversion to a non-antibiotic treatment scheme based on teat sealant dry-off 
prophylaxis. Also, calves reared with their mother were shown to grow faster, while no 
negative effect of suckling on the somatic cell count or a negative impact on animal 
health status were observed. The effect of suckling calves on the resistance of adult 
animals to mastitis and the overall results of the mastitis prevention plan programme 
will be known at the beginning of 2009. 
 
WP4.6 Bovine feeding regimes which improve production efficiency, 
microbiological safety and/or sensory quality of milk. 
Preliminary observations at IGER showed that feeding clover silages (CS) increases 
the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of milk. However, the effect of CS based diets 
on faecal shedding of enteric pathogens was not previously investigated. Studies at 
IGER gave no clear indications that feeding red clover silage affects faecal shedding 
of L. monocytogenes or E. coli. However studies demonstrated that milk and milk 
protein yields can be significantly improved by feeding red clover silage (RCS) as 1:1 
mix with maize silage, but that the efficiency of utilisation of forage N was reduced 
when diets contained more than 10% RCS.  
Conclusions 
The results obtained in the QLIF project over the last four years have provided 
recommendations to farmers and other stakeholders on how to improve organic 
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008 
Archived at http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html 
 
 
livestock farming. Significant progress was made in areas of housing, feeding and 
management. Often the recommendations are straightforward, and ready for 
implementation, e.g. the recommendation to provide roughage to pigs (WP4.4) to 
improve gut health, or the inclusion of dried chicory to combat Oesophagostomum 
(WP4.1). In other areas challenges remain. For example, reducing endoparasitic 
burden and keeping the use of conventional anthelmintics to zero appears to be rather 
difficult (WP4.2). In some cases, progress with respect to one objective have created 
new challenges. For example, under WP4.5 the maternal rearing of calves increased 
calf live weights at weaning, but resulted in unacceptable levels of cow, calf and farm 
stress at weaning. In these cases it is difficult to decide whether or not a change is an 
overall improvement or not.  
To facilitated decision making the following key questions will be discussed as part 
QLIF workshop 3 at the Modena IFOAM/ISOFAR congress 
1. What constitutes a high performance organic livestock system (consider the 
various stakeholders - farmer, animal, consumer, certification body, broader 
society, etc)? 
2. Given answers to the above question - what are the key indicators of organic 
livestock system performance? 
3. How do we measure these indicators? 
4. Are there any major conflicts when trying to achieve high levels of system 
performance – what are they, who do they affect and can we reduce them? 
Acknowledgments 
The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the European Community financial 
participation under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, Technological 
Development and Demonstration Activities, for the Integrated Project 
QUALITYLOWINPUTFOOD,FP6-FOOD-CT-2003- 506358. 
References  
Biavati, B., Santini, C., & Leifert, C. (2007) Alternative strategies to reduce enteric bacterial 
infections and improve microbiological safety of pig and poultry production systems. In: 
Handbook of Organic Food Quality and Safety. Eds. J. Cooper, U. Niggli and C. Leifert; pp. 
241-265. Woodhouse Publishing Ltd., Cambridge, UK. 
Carstensen, L., Mette Vaarst and Allan Roepstorff, 2002. Helminth infections in Danish organic 
swine herds. Veterinary Parasitology, 106: 253-264. 
Cooper, J., Niggli, U and Leifert, C. (2007): Handbook of Organic Food Quality and Safety. 
Woodhouse Publishing Ltd. (ISBN 978-1-84569-010-6), Cambridge, UK. 
Maurer, V., Hördegen and Hertzberg, H. (2007): Reducing anthelmintic use for the control of 
internal parasites in organic livestock systems. In: Cooper, J. Niggli, U. Leifert, C. (eds.): 
Handbook of Organic Food Quality and Safety. Woodhouse Publishing Ltd., Cambridge, UK, 
p. 221-240. 
Permin, A., Bisgaard, M., Frandsen, F., Pearman, M.,Kold, J. and Nansen, P (1999) Prevalence of 
gastrointestinal helminths in different poultry production systems. British Poultry Science 
40(4): 439-434 
Spoolder, H.A.M, Mejer, H.E., Vermeer, H.M., Meerburg, B.G., Krimpen, M. van and Kijlstra, H.A. 
2007. Prevention and treatment of parasitic infections in organic pigs. In: Proceedings of the 
3rd QLIF congress, Hohenheim, Germany, March 20-23, 2007: 327-332. 
Hovi M., Sundrum A., Thamsborg S.M. (2003): Animal health and welfare in organic livestock 
production in Europe – current state and future challenges. Livest. Prod. Sci. 80:41-53. 


English

Alternative strategies to reduce enteric bacterial infections and improve microbiological safety of pig and poultry production systems.

Animal health and welfare in organic livestock production

Helminth infections in Danish organic swine herds.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in different poultry production systems.

Reducing anthelmintic use for the control of internal parasites in organic livestock systems.

Performance of organic and low input livestock systems: a matter of sound design?

Abstract

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Name not available

NARCIS

Aberystwyth Research Portal

Organic Eprints

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