Animal welfare organic production systems

Animal welfare is an issue that is, at the moment, subject to these kinds of differentiation regarding standards and assurance schemes (Roux and Miele, 2005). A number of initiatives have been taken both within and in parallel to organic production systems, all with the aim of improving farm animal welfare, but with rather diverse standards and expectations. 

Several issues must be considered when trying to answer the question of whether there is a general animal welfare problem in organic production systems. The first one is the issue of... 

The main difference between organic and non-organic pig production systems refers to the average area allotted to each individual, castration of males, removal or not of part of the tail and fangs, and the presence of outdoor range. In general, organic production systems seem to provide more welfare to the animals than conventional systems. 

However, as the negative animal welfare impact associated with caged and other intensive indoor production systems became apparent, animal welfare became a primary driver for consumer demand and product differentiation in the poultry sector. As a result, both organic and conventional free range products have achieved significant market shares and price premiums compared to products from intensive indoor production in most European countries (Hamm et al., 2002). 

Zollitsch W. (2003). Working group report Poultry production constraints and recommendations for enhancing health, welfare and food safety , in Hovi M., Martini A. and Padel S., Socio-Economic Aspects of Animal Health andFood Safety in Organic Farming System, Proceeding of the 1st SAFO Workshop 5-7 September 2003, Florence, Italy. University of Reading. 

Hegelund, L., Sorensen, J.T. and Johansen, N.F. 2003. Development of a welfare assessment system for use in commercial organic egg production. Animal Welfare 12 649-653. 

Animal welfare is important to organic farmers, to consumers of organic products and not least to organic animals, and thus it is important to be able to guarantee the welfare of organically produced animals, but further research on such production systems is needed. 

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