Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

RAHMANN G & GODINHO D (Ed.) (2012): Tackling the Future Challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry.
Proceedings of the 2 nd OAHC, Hamburg/Trenthorst, Germany, Sep 12-14, 2012
The impact matrix has proven to capture and reduce the complexity of a whole farm system and to
identify the most effective measures to improve animal health on farm level. Recommendations
related to variables identified as ‘active’ variables enable the farmer to invest limited resources
more efficiently where they might provide the highest impact.
Suggestions to tackle the future challenges of organic animal husbandry
Animal health has become an increasing issue of public interest and of concern in organic livestock
farming. The variability in health related farm systems provides a strong hint that an increase in
minimum standards, characterising organic livestock production in the first place, is not sufficient
to improve animal health. Output orientation and a systemic management approach are needed to
bring animal health status in general in line with consumers’ expectations and legislation requirements.
References
Dietze K, Werner C & Sundrum A (2007): Status quo of animal health of sows and piglets in organic farms.
In: Niggli U, Leiffert C, Alföldi T, Lück L & Willer H (eds.), Improving sustainability in organic and
low input food production systems. Proc. 3rd QLIF Congress, Hohenheim, Germany, March 20-23,
2007, p. 366-369.
Früh B, Bochicchio D, Edwards S, Hegelund L, Leeb C, Heinonen M, Maupertuis F, Sundrum A, Werne S,
Wiberg S, Mejer H, Prunier A, Roepstorff A, Lubac S, Bonde M, Rousing T, Sundrum A & Lindgren K
(2011): Knowledge synthesis: Animal health and welfare in organic pig production - Final Report
COREPIG. Organic eprint no 18419, http://orgprints.org/18419/
Vester F & Hesler A (1980): Sensitivitätsmodell / Sensitivity Model. Regionale Planungsgemein-schaft Untermain,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
143