Free range conditions, grazing rotation, pigs - UK Soil Associaition Organic Standards 2005

Padel, Susanne and Lowman, Steve (2005) Free range conditions, grazing rotation, pigs - UK Soil Associaition Organic Standards 2005. [Organic rules - Differences between other regulations/standards and EEC No 2092/91]

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Summary

Soil Association standards recommend that pigs should be kept in rotational grazing systems, moved at least every 6 months, and not returned to the same land more than once in 4 years. There is a table, detailing the number of different age/size/group types of pig that will produce 170 kg nitrogen per year, together with a worked example of a 100-hectare farm. (Soil Association Organic Standards. Paragraphs 13.3.3, 13.3.4 and 13.3.5.)

Difference

Soil Association contain recommendations that pigs should be kept in rotational grazing systems, and further related guidance and recommendations, that are not in EU Regulation 2092/91. EU Regulation does not include these recommendations and guidance items.

Justification

Long intervals in the grazing rotation ofpigs helps to reduce the infectivity of pasture with parasitic worms. Soil Association standards aim to encourage best practice among organic pig producers for soil management and animal health and welfare by including this recommendation and guidance on rotational grazing systems, which are not actually required in the standards.

EU Regulation

Annex I. Principles of organic production and processing > B.Livestock and livestock products - Annex I B > Housing and free-range conditions - Annex I B8, see also Annex VIII

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