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Breeding replacement gilts for organic pig herds
J I Leenhouwers1, J Ten Napel, E H A T Hanenberg
11IPG, Institute for Pig Genetics BV, PO Box 43, 6640AA Beuningen, The Netherlands.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|March 24, 2012
Summary
Organic pig farming in the Netherlands faces challenges with lower farrowing rates and higher mortality. The organic breeding herds (OrgBS) model using conventional genetics offers the best economic viability for replacement gilts, despite disease risks.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Genetics
Background:
- Dutch organic pig sector requires suitable replacement gilts.
- Organic herds exhibit lower farrowing rates and higher preweaning mortality than conventional herds.
- Genotype-environment interactions were assumed absent in simulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate breeding structures and sow lines for Dutch organic pig sector replacement gilts.
- Simulate economic performance of different breeding systems under organic conditions.
- Assess genetic progress for organic pig breeding structures.
Main Methods:
- Economic and genetic simulation studies.
- Analysis of sow and litter performance data from 11-14 Dutch organic pig herds (2006-2007).
- Comparison of organic herd performance with conventional herds.
Main Results:
- Organic herds had lower farrowing rates (3.6%-7.5%) and higher preweaning mortality (7%-13%).
- Organic breeding herds (OrgBS) with Yorkshire × Landrace cross showed highest margin per sow place (€779).
- Flower breeding system (FlowerBS) offers highest genetic progress (€3.72/slaughter pig/generation) if sow population exceeds 5000.
Conclusions:
- OrgBS using conventional genetics is the most economically viable option for organic pig replacement gilts.
- FlowerBS is cost-effective only for large organic sow populations.
- Rotation breeding system (RotBS) is a viable alternative, especially with AI boars selected via an organic index.
- Yorkshire sow line consistently provided highest prolificacy and economic returns.
