Optimization of husbandry and feeding in organic sow husbandry to improve piglet health – Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

The aim of the project is to improve the health of suckling and rearing piglets under organic husbandry conditions by adapting housing and feeding and to demonstrate ways of reducing piglet mortality. In addition to adapted housing and feeding, the influence of feeding on the microbial population in the piglets’ intestines will be evaluated. For this purpose, microbiome examinations and histological examinations are carried out at the end of piglet rearing. Furthermore, improved, farm-adapted health and hygiene management will contribute significantly to stable animal health on organic farms and the development of a health monitoring program will be investigated. The various issues are being investigated both in organic sow husbandry at VBZL Haus Düsse and, in some cases, on practical farms. The aim is to close knowledge gaps and generate new findings for organic sow husbandry and piglet production by processing and evaluating various issues.