Transcript Slide 1

Improved contribution of local feed
to support 100% organic feed supply
to pigs and poultry
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Research questions
From 2017 all producers will be required to feed monogastric animals
a 100% organic diet. This raises a number of questions:
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What is the availability of relevant locally produced organic feed?
What is the nutritive value of new feed items?
Which impact does the use of new feed items have on pigs and
poultry in different phases of their production cycle?
Can inclusion of roughage in the feeding regimen contribute to
meeting the nutritional and behavioral needs as well as supporting
animal health?
To what extent direct foraging in the outdoor area can contribute
to meeting the animal’s nutritional needs?
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ICOPP: Improved contribution of local feed to support 100%
organic feed supply to pigs and poultry
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Local feed availability
Headed by FiBl and with contributions from all partners, data base of
organic feed stuffs available at EU level constructed and balanced
with projected demands of protein for the organic pig and poultry
sector produced
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The nine countries involved in ICOPP cover 50 % of European
organic arable land and produce 85 % and 80 % of organic pigs
and poultries, respectively.
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Self-sufficiency of feed dry matter is on average 69 %, whereas
self-sufficiency of crude protein is on average 56 %.
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Thus, new and protein sources are needed for pigs and poultry.
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Organic pig feeding, concentrates
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Sainfoin and grasspea seeds possess specific advantages under
difficult growing conditions (marginal, dry or wet soil conditions).
This may (partially) compensate their relatively low yields.
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If properly processed, both sainfoin seeds and grasspea seeds can
be used to substitute for scarce protein sources (particularly
soybean meal) without affecting growth performance and health
of weaned piglets.
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Mussel meal can replace common protein sources in feed for
growing/finishing pigs with maintained production results in terms
of growth, feed efficiency and carcass quality
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Organic pig feeding, roughage
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Roughage (clover grass and alfalfa) represents a good source for
protein (high yield per ha with appropriate amino acid
composition) and can (partly) substitute concentrate based
proteins
And
 prevent ulcer damages
But
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If mixed with concentrates, daily gain and feed conversion rate
becomes poorer
Direct foraging on well-established alfalfa can pose an important
contribution to energy and protein supply in fattening pigs if the pigs
are fed restrictively with a low-protein feed mixture and if the pigs
get regularly access to new land (strip-grazing).
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Poultry
Main problem in existing local organic sources is the low content of
methionine compared to other proteins.
For new sources, protein from organically produced Spirulina algae or
insects protein can fully replace protein from traditional sources in
broiler diets.
For existing sources two ways can be suggested
 enriching the relative content of Methionine by fractioning seems
to be a useful way to supply relevant protein sources for poultry,
eg for sunflower seed expeller.
 ‘dilution’ of the diet energy wise. This can eg be relevant when
including high quality roughage in the feed mixture for layers.
For layers and slow growing broilers direct foraging can make a
significant contribution to the amino acid supply
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Conclusion
Much more focus should be put on homegrown forage as a
protein (and amino acid) source, also for pigs and poultry by
 Harvesting at the right time in relation to plant
development when used for silage.
 Take the protein content of the roughage into account in
the practical feeding planning, both when fed as forage and
when animal are foraging
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WP 7 – Dissemination headed by ORC and
with contributions form all partners
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25 articles published to date
Includes web-pages, magazines, newspapers, extension newsletters
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