The new handbook was developed in the framework of the international project «ProPIG». It combines the expertise of 74 pig producers, together with input from advisors and scientists from eight European countries. The recommendations provide support to farmers and consultants in the development of an optimal pig husbandry. Through the use of simple checklists, the manual identifies possible causes and behavioural disorders for the major problem areas and suggests measures for their correction.

In the CoreOrganic II project ProPig, scientists and advisors evaluated health, wellbeing and husbandry conditions of pigs on the above mentioned 74 organic farms in eight European countries with differing housing systems, including free range, partly free range and indoor housing (with outdoor access). Based on these assessments, improvement strategies were developed together with the pig farmers and compiled in this handbook.

Technical information

Holinger et al. (2015) Improving health and welfare of pigs. FiBL, INRA, Newcastle University (NU), Institute of Animal Science (IAS), BOKU.  First edition, handbook, 92 pages, language: English (also available in German, French and Czech), hardback. ISBN 978-3-03736-278-5.

How to get it

The handbook with the order number 1676 can be downloaded for free in FiBL's online shop or you can order a printed version for CHF/Euro 12. - at www.shop.fibl.org.

Video about the introduction

For the introduction of the handbook we have produced a video that shows how a Swiss pig producer is using „Improving health and welfare of pigs“ in his daily work. You can watch the movie at the FiBL-Youtube-Channel:www.youtube.com/user/FiBLFilm 

Further information

Contact

• Gillian Butler, Newcastle University,  gillian.butler(at)newcastle.ac.uk
• Tine Rousing, Aarhus University,  tine.rousing(at)anis.au.dk