Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions

Kelly, Hilary R. C.; Browning, Helen M.; Day, J. M.; Martins, Anne; Pearce, G.P.; Stopes, C.; Edwards, Sandra A.

doi:10.1002/jsfa.3060

Cited by 27 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Concerning carcass quality (Figure 3), the old breeds (AS and SH) show their low potential in lean meat percentage, Figure 3 Differences of lean meat in the carcass grouped for genotype and environment (least square mean). Brandt, Werner, Baulain, Brade and Weissmann which is according to the other findings (Kelly et al, 2007). The inferiority is obvious under both systems.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

Genotype–environment interactions for growth and carcass traits in different pig breeds kept under conventional and organic production systems

Brandt¹,

Werner²,

Baulain

et al. 2010

Animal

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The demand for special breeding programmes for organic pig meat production is based on the assumption that pigs kept under organic conditions need different biological properties compared with conventionally kept pigs in order to achieve a good performance. This would mean that genotype-environment interactions exist. Therefore, 682 pigs of seven different genotypes were tested for growth performance and carcass quality under conventional and organic environments at two testing stations to verify genotype-environment interactions. All genotypes achieved significantly better results within the conventional environment and there were significant interactions between genotype and environment for all the criteria of growth performance and carcass quality. The interactions are mainly caused by varying differences between organic and conventional systems within genotypes, but for all traits, except weight gain, no major shift of the ranking order within environment between genotypes. Although statistically significant genotype-environment interactions exist, the modern genotypes selected under conventional conditions are also superior to indigenous breeds under organic conditions in economically important traits. Hence, it can be concluded from these results that no special breeding programme is necessary for organic production systems.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

Genotype–environment interactions for growth and carcass traits in different pig breeds kept under conventional and organic production systems

Brandt¹,

Werner²,

Baulain

et al. 2010

Animal

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“…However, Werner et al (2007) found significant GxE interactions when Livestock Science 123 (2009) 154-160 investigating growth rate and carcass leanness in seven different breeds and breed-crosses in organic and conventional environments. Kelly et al (2007) found no significant GxE interactions when comparing a traditional breed, a modern breed, and a cross between the two, in outdoor and indoor organic environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 71%

GxE interactions for growth and carcass leanness: Re-ranking of boars in organic and conventional pig production

2009

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“…Otherwise, traits for indoor organic production are largely similar to outdoor production, including maternal abilities, piglet vitality and sow longevity. Next to desirable traits of breeds for organic production, Kelly et al (2007) concluded that the choice of breed should also depend on the ability of the herd to manage prolific sows. Therefore, based on results of this study, the choice for a Yorkshire sow line either as part of a cross in OrgBS and RotBS or as a purebred line in FlowerBS, might be a good option for the Dutch organic sector, provided that organic farmers are able to handle the larger litters that this line produces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding replacement gilts for organic pig herds

Leenhouwers¹,

Napel

Hanenberg³

et al. 2011

Animal

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In this study, breeding structures and commercial sow lines were evaluated by economic and genetic simulation studies for their suitability to provide the Dutch organic pig sector with replacement gilts. Sow and litter performance from over 2000 crossbred sows from 2006 to 2007 were collected on 11 to 14 Dutch organic pig herds, respectively, and compared with conventional herds. Results showed that organic herds had lower farrowing rates (3.6% to 7.5%), more live born piglets per litter (0.4% to 1.2%) and higher preweaning mortality rates (7% to 13%) compared to conventional herds. These results were used to simulate economic performance of various combinations of breeding structures and sow lines under organic conditions, under the assumption of absence of genotype-environment interactions. Sow and litter performance data under organic conditions (total piglets born/litter, stillborn piglets/litter, mortality until weaning, lactation length, interval weaning-oestrus and sow culling rate) and the costprice calculation for the Dutch organic pig sector were used as input for the economic simulation studies. The expected genetic progress was simulated for three potential breeding structures of the organic sector: organic breeding herds producing F1 gilts (OrgBS), a flower breeding system (FlowerBS) and a two-line rotation breeding system (RotBS). In FlowerBS, an organic purebred sow line is bred, using on-farm gilt replacement. The OrgBS with a Yorkshire 3 Landrace cross had the highest margin per sow place (h779), followed by RotBS with Yorkshire 3 Landrace cross (h706) and FlowerBS with Yorkshire sow line (h677). In case that an organic purebred sow population of 5000 sows would be available, FlowerBS gave the highest genetic progress in terms of cost price reduction (h3.72/slaughter pig per generation), followed by RotBS and OrgBS (h3.60/slaughter pig per generation). For FlowerBS, additional costs will be involved for maintaining a dedicated breeding programme. In conclusion, OrgBS using conventional genetics is economically the most viable option for the organic pig sector. However, this structure has clear disadvantages in terms of risks with regard to disease transmission and market demand. FlowerBS using a dedicated purebred organic line will only be cost-effective if sow population size is sufficiently large. RotBS might be a viable alternative, especially in combination with artificial insemination (AI) boars that are ranked according to an organic selection index. Regardless of breeding structure, the Yorkshire sow line gave the highest prolificacy and the highest economic returns on organic herds.

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Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions

Cited by 27 publications

References 18 publications

Genotype–environment interactions for growth and carcass traits in different pig breeds kept under conventional and organic production systems

Genotype–environment interactions for growth and carcass traits in different pig breeds kept under conventional and organic production systems

GxE interactions for growth and carcass leanness: Re-ranking of boars in organic and conventional pig production

Breeding replacement gilts for organic pig herds

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