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Ludwiczak A, Kasprowicz-Potocka M, Zaworska-Zakrzewska A, Składanowska-Baryza J, Rodriguez-Estevez V, Sanz-Fernandez S, Diaz-Gaona C, Ferrari P, Pedersen LJ, Couto MYR, Revilla I, Sell-Kubiak E. Husbandry practices associated with extensification in European pig production and their effects on pork quality. Meat Sci 2023; 206:109339. [PMID: 37716226 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
This review has been developed as part of the mEATquality project with the main objective to examine the types of extensification practices used in European pig husbandry and their effect on intrinsic meat quality. Literature search has resulted in 679 references in total, from which 53 showed a strict compliance with the goals of this review: 1) the use of local European breeds and their crossbreds (22 papers); 2) addition of forage to diet (9 papers); 3) increased space allowance (3 papers); 4) enrichment of environment (19 papers). The evaluation of selected extensification factors showed that not all of them have a clear impact on meat quality, and are often confounded. The most clear differences were observed when comparing autochthonous with commercial breeds, and systems with access to pastures or woodlands vs. indoor housing. Despite many studies focusing on the extensification of husbandry practices, some of the factors cannot be confirmed to have a direct effect on pork intrinsic quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Ludwiczak
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, Suchy Las 62-002, Poland.
| | | | - Anita Zaworska-Zakrzewska
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, Poznań 60-637, Poland.
| | - Joanna Składanowska-Baryza
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, Suchy Las 62-002, Poland.
| | - Vicente Rodriguez-Estevez
- Department of Animal Production, International Agrifood Campus of Excellence (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Córdoba 14014, Spain.
| | - Santos Sanz-Fernandez
- Department of Animal Production, International Agrifood Campus of Excellence (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Córdoba 14014, Spain.
| | - Cipriano Diaz-Gaona
- Department of Animal Production, International Agrifood Campus of Excellence (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Córdoba 14014, Spain.
| | - Paolo Ferrari
- Research Centre for Animal Production (CRPA), Viale Timavo, 43/2, Reggio Emilia 42121, Italy.
| | - Lene Juul Pedersen
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, Tjele 8830, Denmark.
| | | | - Isabel Revilla
- Food Technology Area, University of Salamanca, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Zamora, Avda. Requejo 33, Zamora 49022, Spain.
| | - Ewa Sell-Kubiak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, Poznań 60-637, Poland.
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Collas C, Gourdine JL, Beramice D, Badot PM, Feidt C, Jurjanz S. Soil ingestion, a key determinant of exposure to environmental contaminants. The case study of chlordecone exposure in free-range pigs in the French West Indies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120486. [PMID: 36279992 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ingested soil may expose free-range animals to environmental pollutants. In pigs, soil ingestion is few described whereas their burrowing behaviour suggests that it could be high. Although highly productive pigs are generally reared indoor, free-range farming is increasing in view of ethical considerations for animal welfare and is a common practice for subsistence agriculture systems. The experiment lasted 8 weeks (2 for adaptation, 6 for measurements) with 24 growing pigs of Guadeloupean Creole (CR) or Large White (LW) breeds. Pigs were assigned to 3 outdoor treatments: high pasture HP (>60 days of regrowth), low pasture LP (35 days of regrowth), and sweet potato SP (sweet potato field). Titanium (soil marker) and chromium (faecal output marker) contents of faeces, vegetation and soil samples were used to estimate individual daily soil ingestions. The average, 10th and 90th percentiles were 440, 200 and 726 g of dry soil per 100 kg body weight, respectively, without significant differences between the 3 outdoor treatments or the 2 breeds but with a significant period (i.e. week of measurements) × treatment interaction (P < 0.001). In the French West Indies, animals may be exposed to chlordecone (CLD), a very persistent organochlorine insecticide. Simulations of CLD tissue contamination due to ingestion of contaminated soil were carried out and compared to the maximum residue limit. These results show that grazing management needs to be adapted to effectively limit soil ingestion by pigs and the impact of a contaminated environment on the sustainability of pig systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Collas
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, URAFPA, 54000, Nancy, France.
| | - Jean-Luc Gourdine
- INRAE Centre Antilles-Guyane, UR-ASSET, Guadeloupe, 97170, Petit-Bourg, France
| | - David Beramice
- INRAE Centre Antilles-Guyane, UE-PTEA, Guadeloupe, 97170, Petit-Bourg, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Badot
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté-CNRS, Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, 25030, Besançon, France
| | - Cyril Feidt
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, URAFPA, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Stefan Jurjanz
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, URAFPA, 54000, Nancy, France
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Juul L, Kristensen T, Theil P, Therkildsen M, Kongsted A. Effect of two different feeding strategies on energy intake from pasture, feed efficiency and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs in a mobile pasture system. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Aubé L, Guay F, Bergeron R, Théau J, Devillers N. Foraging behaviour of gestating sows on pasture and damages to vegetation cover are influenced by restriction of concentrate feed. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Pietrosemoli S, Green JT, Villamide MJ. A Comparison of Stocking Methods for Pasture-Based Growing-Finishing Pig Production Systems. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10101885. [PMID: 33076488 PMCID: PMC7602635 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A sustainable pasture-based production system should provide benefits to the vegetation, soil and animals while providing means of economic support for the household that operates the system. If best management practices are implemented, this would allow the development of resilience for the pasture system and ameliorate the natural resources for present and future generations. Pasture-based pig production represents a production alternative for small scale or limited-resources farmers, offering them the possibility to brand their products. The implementation of best management practices would allow managers to reach productive and conservation goals. This study was conducted to compare the effects of continuous, rotational and strip-grazing stocking methods for growing-finishing pigs on tall fescue pastures. Stocking methods had effect on soil bulk density and some soil nutrients, vegetative ground cover, animal weight gain and feed use efficiency. The rotational and strip grazing stocking methods offer potential to improve the sustainability of pasture-based pig systems. Abstract Two alternative stocking methods (rotational and strip-grazing) were compared to continuous stocking at a stocking rate of 47 pigs ha−1 in tall fescue pastures. The research was conducted during two twelve-weeks grazing periods in North Carolina (USA). In total 144 (females and castrated males, 17.5 and 29.1 kg initial body weight) crossbred Yorkshire X Berkshire, Yorkshire/Landrace X Hampshire and Yorkshire/Landrace X Duroc pigs without nose rings were used. Greater soil bulk density and soil concentrations of NO3−, P, K, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed in paddocks managed continuously, while greater final ground cover (+22%) was recorded in paddocks managed with rotational and strip-grazing stocking methods. No differences were detected in botanical composition of the paddocks. Greater weight gains (+8.5%) were registered for rotationally managed pigs. Feed efficiency was better (+8%) for rotationally than for continuously stocked pigs, while strip-grazed pigs presented intermediate values. The results indicated the potential of both alternative stocking methods to be implemented in sustainable pasture-based pig production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Pietrosemoli
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, E.T.S.I. Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-515-0814
| | - James T. Green
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Maria Jesús Villamide
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, E.T.S.I. Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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Forage Consumption and Its Effects on the Performance of Growing Swine-Discussed in Relation to European Wild Boar ( Sus scrofa L.) in Semi-Extensive Systems: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9070457. [PMID: 31323890 PMCID: PMC6680544 DOI: 10.3390/ani9070457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Outdoor-reared European wild boar (Sus Scrofa L.) is regarded as a delicacy by consumers due to its favourable meat properties and an association with high welfare standards. The rearing of wild boar on pasture has the potential to minimise input costs relative to conventional production systems. However, some pasture production systems have been found to perform poorly due to low growth rates. This review collates the available scientific evidence on pasture-based production of wild boar and domestic pigs, to identify factors that influence feed intake, performance, and behaviour. Factors explored include season/weather, dietary supplementation, grazing management, forage availability, herbage quality, and sward type. For example, the additional feed availability associated with pasture grazing has been shown to be a significant factor that positively correlates with dry matter intake of wild boar. This has been demonstrated to result in better feed conversion efficiency and reduced feed costs without reductions in growth rates compared to animals without access to pasture. Furthermore, the increased availability of favoured species in pasture may also promote dry matter intake. The long-term sustainability of wild boar production is dependent on the economic, social, and environmental viability of the systems. Pasture-based production systems may be one way by which this can be achieved, but only if implemented correctly. Abstract Due to its distinct properties, wild boar meat is considered a highly desirable consumer product, in a market that is expanding. Outdoor production is also favoured by consumers who value animal welfare and environmental sustainability when choosing meat products. There is evidence that farms that include pasture for grazing typically have reduced feeding costs. Such production systems can also be more environmentally sustainable as the input (pasture) is inedible to humans, compared to conventional indoor systems, which use human-edible feeds (e.g., soya). However, some wild boar farms have performed poorly compared to those rearing other swine such as hybrid wild boar and domestic pigs. Diet is central to all livestock production and is likely a significant influencing factor of wild boar performance, both in terms of forage consumption and nutritional composition. Other factors may also influence performance, such as weather, behaviour and grazing management. Wild boar production systems hold their own intrinsic value in a growing marketplace. However, information gathered through the study of wild boar has external applications in informing outdoor domestic pig production systems to encourage the use of pasture as part of the habitat of domestic pigs.
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Dietary preference of European wild boar ( Sus scrofa L.) grazing grass and legume at two contrasting plant heights: A pilot study. Livest Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Kongsted AG, Jakobsen M. Effect of genotype and level of supplementary concentrate on foraging activity and vegetation cover in an organic free-range pig system. ACTA AGR SCAND A-AN 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2016.1156152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Jakobsen M, Preda T, Kongsted AG, Hermansen JE. Increased Foraging in Outdoor Organic Pig Production-Modeling Environmental Consequences. Foods 2015; 4:622-644. [PMID: 28231226 PMCID: PMC5224558 DOI: 10.3390/foods4040622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumers’ motivations for buying organic products include a wish of acquiring healthy, environmentally friendly products from production systems that also ensure a high level of animal welfare. However, the current Danish organic pig production faces important challenges regarding environmental impact of the system. High ammonia emissions arise from outdoor concrete areas with growing-finishing pigs and sows on pasture possess an increased risk of nitrogen (N) leaching. Direct foraging in the range area is suggested as a way to improve the nutrient efficiency at farm level and to support a more natural behavior of the pig. Thus, by modeling, we investigated the environmental consequences of two alternative scenarios with growing-finishing pigs foraging in the range area and different levels of crops available for foraging; grass-clover (lowest integration of forage) or a combination of lucerne, grass-clover and Jerusalem artichokes (highest integration of forage). It was possible to have growing-finishing pigs on free-range without increasing N leaching compared to the current practice. The alternative system with lucerne, grass-clover and Jerusalem artichokes showed the lowest carbon footprint with 3.12 CO2 eq kg−1 live weight pig compared to the current Danish pasture based system with 3.69 kg CO2 eq kg−1 live weight pig. Due to positive impact on soil carbon sequestration, the second alternative system based on grass-clover showed a similar carbon foot print compared to current practice with 3.68 kg CO2 eq kg−1 live weight pig. It is concluded that in practice there is room for development of organic pig production systems where direct foraging plays a central role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malene Jakobsen
- Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Blichers Allé 20, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, Tjele DK-8830, Denmark.
| | - Teodora Preda
- Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Blichers Allé 20, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, Tjele DK-8830, Denmark.
| | - Anne Grete Kongsted
- Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Blichers Allé 20, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, Tjele DK-8830, Denmark.
| | - John Erik Hermansen
- Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Blichers Allé 20, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, Tjele DK-8830, Denmark.
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