Prevención general positiva

Regardless which type or stream of farming they practice, organic livestock farmers are more dependent on natural sources in the farm environment because they cannot regulate natural processes with strategic use of synthetic chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides or antibiotics. Earlier, we described in technical breeding terms how characteristics are selected. In this section, we indicate which characteristics would be desirable from an organic point of view.

3.5.1.

Efficiency in the system and production in

keeping with their nature

In general, every organic farmer wants livestock to produce efficiently while complying with organic standards. In organic agriculture, however, efficiency is a broad concept encompassing the use of local and renewable resources, and environmental, economic and social aspects of cultivation both locally and at a global level (Alrøe et al., 1998; IFOAM, 2000). Haiger et al. (1988) stated that ruminants should be used to convert roughage that cannot be digested by man, and not be allowed to compete with man for food. After all about 66% of the world’s agricultural land is in use as grass land. In a similar vein, pigs and poultry should be fed agricultural waste products which are not suitable for human consumption. This is visualized in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2 : The role of animals in the agri-ecological system (Haiger, 1988).

Other reasons for this are that, in terms of nutrient requirements, animal production is less efficient than plant production. Maximum efficiency in dairy production varies from 30 to 50%, while an efficiency rate of 70% is easily achieved in crop production (Van Bruchem, 1999). Van Veluw (1994) proposed that animals should be given a place on mixed farms on the basis of their role in the agri-ecological system. Animals also have a place in the biodynamic vision of the farm as an organism (Baars, 1990a, Klett, 1992). In these systems, animals must be capable of converting the rations of roughage and waste products efficiently into food for human consumption. To do so, cattle must have a large rumen. In pigs, digestion of more roughage fodder will take place further on in the intestines, so that breeding should focus more strongly on this characteristic. Laying hens should be able to produce well on a diet containing

Nature area (2/3) Agriculture (1/3

Grassland (2/3) Arable (1/3) Ruminants Pigs, poultry human Milk,meat,wool,eggs

3.5.2.

Animal integrity and welfare

In the principles of organic agriculture, nature and nature values are an indivisible entity, an organism with its own identity and integrity (Alrøe et al., 1998). The integrity of nature also encompasses animals' integrity. Integrity refers to animals' wholeness and the absence of mutilations, but also to a state of species-specific equilibrium and the ability to live independently in conditions appropriate to the animal (Grommers et al., 1995). This implies that animals must be able to express their natural, species-specific behaviour and be able to reproduce naturally. This concept is therefore a negation of embryo transfer. Finally, animals must have the capacity to adapt to local conditions without this negatively affecting their health and welfare (IFOAM, 2000).

Integrity also means that animals should be used for purposes which are in keeping with their characteristics. Cattle are ruminants with multiple stomachs designed by nature to digest roughage (Haiger, 1988; Rist, 1987). Pigs and poultry are omnivores that live from whatever food they manage to find while rootingor scratching in the ground. In a mixed farm system, their role should be to eat

whatever is left (see previous section).

Feeding and keeping animals in a way that better suits their nature means that the animals have more freedom to be themselves. This may enhance their welfare. Appropriate or normal social behaviour should always be considered when determining desirable characteristics. Horns, tails and beaks should remain intact, but steps should be taken to prevent animals injuring each other. It is important to facilitate natural behaviour in every stage of life. Sows, for example, should be able to walk freely, but they should not display aggressive behaviour towards their young or smother them when they lie down. At the same time, piglets should be lively and alert and jump out of the way when the sow lies down.

Natural species-specific behaviour also means loose housing systems and going outdoors. This should be facilitated by giving animals access to an outdoor run or pasturing them. But they must also be able to cope with this freedom and outdoor access. It almost sounds silly but the animals must therefore be able to walk a distance! Further, they should not become aggressive when exposed to daylight, they should be able to search, scratch, root, graze, roam and so on. In conventional agriculture, breeding no longer selects for these characteristics because the animals are kept indoors in housing systems which prevent undesirable social interactions as much as possible.

3.5.3.

Resistance to disease

Antibiotics may only be used for curative purposes when an animal is so ill that its welfare is at stake (EU, 2001). Preventative use is not allowed. Animals are given the opportunity to fight off illness themselves. In general, organic livestock should be stronger, more robust and have enough reserves for a good natural resistance to disease.

3.5.4.

Genetic modification

Finally, the genetic modification of animals, or in fact of any organism, is not allowed in organic agriculture (IFOAM, 1994).