[Nutrition disorders in fattening pigs in an "organic" facility]

In a herd of fattening pigs under an organic system of management, the following problems were observed: sudden deaths, skin diseases, diarrhea, increased restlessness and cannibalism. The diet consisted of cereals (barley, wheat, rye), field beans, lime stone and deteriorated, raw potatoes without addition of a mineral mixture. Deficiencies of sodium, zinc and selenium were found in the diet and in the animals (blood samples, autopsy). The vitamin E status in the pigs was also below normal.