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This section is divided into discussion on:
Constraints and the
SAFO Recommendations
Disease Prevention Principles
According to the EU Regulation 1804/99, disease prevention on organic farms should be based on:
a) selection of appropriate breeds and strains (e.g. vitality, resistance to disease);
b) application of husbandry practices that encourage strong resistance to disease and the prevention of infections;
c) encouragement of natural immunological defence of the animal (e.g. using high quality feed, allowing regular exercise and access to pasturage); and
d) avoidance of overstocking and health problems resulting from overstocking.
See also Organic Standards
The Soil Association provide Information for vets: an introduction to animal health under organic standards
For more on individual diseases see Disease Management
Health Status of Organic Livestock
Based on the literature, it can be concluded that at the present moment the health status of farm animals in both organic and conventional livestock production is similar (Hovi et al., 2003; Sundrum et al., 2004). Levels of diseases are high, regardless of the production method. Differences between farms within each group are greater than differences between the organic and the conventional production method. The greatest source of variation in relation to disease occurrence is the farm management. A high prevalence of diseases within a farm system is primarily related to the absence of effective monitoring and feedback mechanisms. Limitations in the availability of labour and capital as well as structural problems often impede efforts to improve the animal health situation at the farm level.
Imbalanced diets caused by a restricted availability of high quality feed in organic farming are particularly relevant in the case of poultry and pig production. The risk of diseases and welfare problems because of suboptimal nutrient supply occurs mainly in the animal’s first weeks of life and can be handled by proper management (Sundrum et al., 2005a).
Conversely, organic farming can offer clear advantages for animal health and welfare by setting limits to the intensification process of animal production, in particular by limiting growth rates.
Since there are large variations in the prevalence of diseases between organic farms, general claims that organic animal products derive from healthy animals or from animals that are healthier than those in conventional production cannot be justified, but the organic standards set a framework under which improvements could be achieved. Strategies for improvement need to target farm management as one of the most important sources of variation in the prevalence of disease between organic farms.
There are a range of constraints to enhancing animal health and food safety on organic farms. They can be divided into internal (farm level) and external constraints and differ between the different animal species. A comprehensive overview is presented in the Proceedings of the Second SAFO Workshop (Hovi et al., 2004a).
The most relevant constraints at the farm level are: management skills of the farmer, availability of capital, labour, nutrients and genotypes adapted to the specific farm conditions. The nature of these constraints varies considerably both between individual farms and between regions and countries. There appears to be a lack of training and education of farmers in disease prevention and animal health promotion on organic farms (Vaarst et al., 2006) and a lack of analysis of economic implications of disease levels under the conditions of organic management.
External constraints can be categorised broadly into market factors and institutional support. The market factors encompass those that enhance the effectiveness of marketing, that provide clear incentives to improve animal health and food safety, and secure an adequate price that covers the cost of production and yields some profit. Lack of knowledge also appears to be an external constraint. Veterinarians, consultants and inspectors often lack basic knowledge of organic farming principles and practices and do not have sufficient training in preventive health management and alternative treatment options.
Impact of standards on animal health and food safety
There is general agreement that animal health plays a dominant role in organic livestock production, but opinions as to what constitutes an acceptable health status are likely to differ between consumers, farmers and also between veterinarians. There is no clear science based definition of the term ‘animal health’ (ranging from the absence of disease to broad definition of health as a state of unrestricted physical, physiological and psychological well-being) or clear criteria against which the state of animal health and food safety could be assessed satisfactorily.
The impact of the EU Regulation on animal health and food safety on organic farms is therefore difficult to either describe or assess. It is difficult to assess whether any or which requirements in the organic production standards directly influence on animal health for several reasons.
Farm animals are complex organisms which react individually to their environment. When their ability to cope with the environment is overtaxed, the occurrence of disease differs widely both in nature and severity.
Any organic farm is a complex system which is characterised not only by the production method but also by a large number of farm and management specific aspects
Interactions between individual farm animals and the farm system are complex and site specific making it difficult to draw conclusions that can be generalised and transferred directly from one farm to the other.
See also Food Safety
Nevertheless, organic standards are likely to provide some benefits for the animal health status, as the following examples show. This list is not comprehensive and further examples are provided in the fourth SAFO report on standard development (Sundrum et al., 2005b).
High demands concerning livestock housing conditions (e.g. space allowance in the indoor and outdoor area, litter bedding etc.) provide improved possibilities for the farm animals to execute their natural behaviour patterns and reduce the stocking density of the animals kept.
Restrictions concerning the bringing in of farm animals from other units into an organic livestock production unit can minimise the risk of distributing pathogens between herds.
Provisions concerning the use of veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics require a clear diagnosis. This can avoid the use of ‘blind therapy’ covering up underlying causes, prohibits non-specific and inadequate use of those drugs, and promotes the implementation of preventive measures.
The restrictions concerning feeding and bought-in feedstuffs mean that the organic farming approach protects farm animals from the negative effects of intensive livestock production by setting limits on the intensification process. The risks of diseases and welfare problems in organic livestock production because of suboptimal nutrient supply are comparatively low and can be handled by proper management.
Although these benefits of the standards contribute to improved animal health, there are also several constraints that make it more difficult for farmers to achieve high animal health status, for example:
Under the restrictions on the application of chemically synthesised allopathic medicinal products and antibiotics (a maximum of three treatments before the animal could potentially lose its organic status), as well as the double withdrawal period farmers might be more inclined to avoid or delay the application of those drugs, even when they are necessary.
According to the EU Regulation, phyto-therapeutic and homeopathic products, trace elements and products listed in Part C of the Annex II should be used in preference to chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics. This leads to expectations of the therapeutic effects of alternative medications, which is not fully supported by research evidence. There also appears to be a lack of knowledge about and experience with alternative treatments by those who treat the animals (be they farmers or veterinarians).
Statements in the introduction and the double withdrawal period in the case of a treatment with chemically synthesised drugs are the most relevant paragraphs in the standards in relation to food safety. Their implementation should reduce the concentration of chemical residues of veterinary drugs in organic livestock products, but cannot guarantee ensure the total absence of such residues. In addition, food safety is not characterised just by the absence of residues but also by the other potential risks to human health (e.g. zoonoses) that are not covered by the standards.
The restrictions concerning bought-in feedstuffs mean that farmers often have to increase their efforts to establish a balanced diet for their animals. A shortage of certain feedstuffs (for example in high quality protein feed for pigs and poultry or energy sources for ruminants) can cause nutritional deficiency, with negative impacts on animal health. The section in the standards setting out species specific aspects does not cover feeding which is one of the most important factors influencing animal health.
Across Europe, the climate, stocking density, nutrient supply and livestock systems vary considerably between farms, regions and countries. These differences in the availability of resources (litter, feedstuffs, breeds, outdoor access etc.) generate incompatibilities between the different regions in Europe. The standards provide general statements and declarations of intent but do not give detailed instructions on practises that to ensure good animal health.
The EU Regulation does not demand a minimum level of animal health and food safety that has to be attained by all organic farms, and does not promise such a premium level to consumers. However, consumers may expect a better animal health and welfare status on organic farms.
In summary, the standards set minimum requirements to establish and maintain a high animal health and welfare status on organic farms, but cannot guarantee that this framework is implemented in an optimal way. Optimal allocation of limited resources (labour, time, nutrients, investments etc.) varies from species to species, from farm to farm, and from country to country emphasising the need for skills to balance the various demands and strengthen preventative measures.
At the end of the SAFO project a number of strategies to ensure the highest possible animal health and welfare and food safety in organic livestock farming, were recommended as follows:
Sustaining animal health should be stated as a key principle in the EU Regulation.
Each organic livestock herd should produce an animal health plan, in which the current animal health status and animal health promotion strategies on the farm are described. The animal health plan should be updated at least once a year and should be assessed independently.
There is a need to focus not only on inputs (such as feed, housing, and medication) but also on animal health outputs in organic livestock production in particular in inspection and certification.
Certification bodies should establish a regular monitoring system of data describing the animal disease status. Producers failing to meet certain agreed threshold values in the longer term should face consequences (e.g. agreed improvement targets in the animal health plan, loss of product certification).