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Animal welfare & housing

Livestock

Animal welfare & housing

What FiBL is doing on this theme
News on the theme
- 03/19/2024 : SchweinErleben: How wild are domestic pigs?
- 09/29/2023 : Updated technical guide gives practical tips on cow-reared calf husbandry
- 06/07/2023 : On-farm slaughter – less stress, more animal welfare
- 05/24/2022 : Survey: Livestock husbandry and ecosystem services
- 02/16/2022 : Results of the Core Organic Cofund project POWER summarised in a handbook
- 11/11/2021 : Livestock-based food systems need to become more sustainable
- 05/31/2021 : New project to integrate crops, shrubs and livestock in the African Sahel
- 02/24/2021 : New reference document on organic production principles and good practice
- 09/30/2020 : Successful international video conference "Organic Animal Husbandry Systems – Challenges, Performance and Potentials"
- 05/28/2020 : Farm and pasture slaughtering for improved animal welfare
- 05/22/2020 : Italian and Polish guides on mother-bonded and fostered calf-rearing published
- 05/19/2020 : Albanian and Serbian guides on pig health and welfare published
- 04/28/2020 : Organic Farm Knowledge - A unique resource with tools for farmers across Europe
- 04/22/2020 : Video: Pig feeding – effect of silage on the occurrence of gastric ulcers
- 04/30/2019 : Silage can help improve health of fattening pigs
- 03/14/2019 : New publication on organic animal farming with FiBL input
- 08/09/2018 : ProYoungStock – new research project on sustainable calf rearing
- 05/15/2018 : MIX-ENABLE - new research project about sustainable livestock farming
- 11/07/2017 : Pre-conference on animal husbandry at the 19th Organic World Congress in India
- 09/08/2017 : Video: Tail biting in pigs - causes and prevention
- 09/26/2016 : Why cows have horns. A new basic guide sheds light on the issue
- 09/23/2016 : New advisory tool on animal-friendly pig husbandry in Africa
- 03/24/2016 : Video: Improving health and welfare of organic dairy cows
- 08/24/2015 : New printed farm handbook for organic pig producers
- 02/23/2015 : Technical guide on mother-bonded and fostered calf rearing in dairy farming
- 09/24/2012 : FiBL contributes to success of Second International Organic Animal Husbandry Conference
- 04/26/2012 : Gently handling young calves makes tender meat
- 04/25/2012 : Less concentrate feeding can be done!
- 04/20/2012 : Second World Conference on Organic Beekeeping: a week for the bees, the environment, and society
- 10/10/2011 : New technical guide: Organic pig production in Europe
- 03/02/2011 : Organic beekeeping and market trends: Presentation at BioFach
Relevant publications for practitioners
Themes/ key words

Publication Language

Year Of Publication

Projects on the theme

Project status

Location/ Department/ Research areas

Themes/ key words

Status	FiBL	Title	Start	End
ongoing	CH	Bridging ecological and socio-economic sciences to enhance our understanding of the interactions between managed and wild bees (SNF Beenergia)	01.01.2025	31.10.2028
ongoing	CH	Networking and advice on-farm slaughter	01.07.2024	30.06.2026
ongoing	CH	Exercise and pasture for healthy calves	01.04.2024	01.04.2025
ongoing	CH	All chicks live: Information on phasing out male chick killing	26.03.2024	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Agroforestry learning project	01.01.2024	31.12.2027
ongoing	CH FR	Lambs from dairy sheep	01.01.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Poultry slaughter - stress reduction from depopulation to death	01.01.2024	31.12.2027
ongoing	DE	Fortschritt mit Kompetenz und Spezialwissen für eine tierwohlgerechte, umweltschonende und nachhaltige Nutztierhaltung (Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl)	01.01.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Milk quality in Cow-calf contact systems	01.01.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Organic pork production in the PUFA context	11.12.2023	31.03.2025
ongoing	CH	Agrivoltaic (AgriSolar Forschung)	02.10.2023	31.12.2025
ongoing	DE	Circular feeding strategies in organic poultry production (GreenChicken)	01.06.2023	31.05.2027
ongoing	CH	Abandoning of male chick-killing in Swiss organic egg production (Biohahn)	01.05.2023	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Text book on pig husbandry	10.04.2023	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Natural insect protection for grazing animals in agroforestry systems	01.04.2023	31.03.2026
ongoing	CH	Conditioning of cattle on the farm for stress reduction from birth to slaughter (Konditionierung Schlachthof)	01.04.2023	01.04.2025
completed	CH	Dissemination of agroecological practices in South Benin (DAPRASB)	16.01.2023	30.04.2024
ongoing	DE	Stress reduction through mobile slaughtering of poultry and cattle (StronGeR)	01.01.2023	30.06.2025
ongoing	DE	Organic field days 2025	01.01.2023	30.08.2025
ongoing	FR	Study and promotion of rearing practices for young dairy cattle, sheep and goats with an adult (PANAS’LAIT)	01.01.2023	31.12.2025
ongoing	FR	Study of factors for natural induction of lactation in non-gestating goats and consequences on their welfare (Gentle Dairy)	01.01.2023	13.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Low stress slaughter – influence of on farm killing on behaviour, stress physiology and meat quality of cattle	01.10.2022	31.12.2024
ongoing	CH	Pigs experience	01.09.2022	01.10.2026
ongoing	CH	On-farm slaughter of pigs and small ruminants (hosk)	01.06.2022	01.06.2025
completed	DE	Organic field days 2023	01.06.2022	21.10.2023
completed	CH	Innovative animal-friendly husbandry standards for organic pig and cattle housing within the framework of the amended EU Organic Regulation	15.05.2022	28.02.2023
ongoing	AT	Living beings becoming food	20.04.2022
completed	CH	Pigs going veggie – Feeding vegetable waste to pigs (Gemüseschwein)	01.03.2022	01.04.2023
ongoing	CH	Potential for methane production of pastures with differing plant communities (Methan Weidelabor)	01.03.2022	31.12.2024
ongoing	CH	Investigation of the methanogenic potential of different Swiss alpine meadows (Methan Sömmerungsweiden)	01.01.2022	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Farmtrail (Landwirtschaftsweg und Klimapfad Lindau)	01.01.2022
ongoing	DE	Animal welfare competence centre sheep (TWZ Schaf)	01.10.2021	31.03.2025
ongoing	CH	Pathways for transitions to sustainability in livestock husbandry and food systems (PATHWAYS)	01.09.2021	31.08.2026
completed	FR	Study of the parameters for the onset of lactation in non-pregnant goats (LACTODOUCE)	24.06.2021	31.01.2023
completed	AT	Hintergrundstudie für den WWF Fleischratgeber Bewertung der österreichischen Fleischsorten Lamm, Pute und Gehegewild in Hinblick auf a) ausgewählte ökologische Indikatoren und b) das Tierwohl	01.05.2021	08.08.2021
ongoing	CH	Innovative Tools for Assessment and Authentication of chicken meat, beef and dairy products’ Qualities (INTAQT)	01.01.2021	31.07.2026
completed	CH	WelFeed – Increasing welfare in feeding and feed intake of pigs (WelFeed)	01.01.2021	30.06.2023
completed	CH	Organic action plan for the Canton of Valais (Plan d'action Bio pour VS)	01.01.2021	31.12.2023
completed	CH	Weiterentwicklung BioSchwein	01.11.2020	31.12.2022
completed	CH	Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry-systems (MIXED)	01.10.2020	30.09.2024
ongoing	CH	Synergistic use and protection of natural resources for rural livelihoods through systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock in the Sahel (SustainSAHEL)	01.09.2020	01.09.2025
ongoing	CH	Therapy of Equine Sarcoid with an orally administered mistletoe extract	01.05.2020	31.12.2024
completed	CH	Animal ethics	07.04.2020	31.12.2022
completed	AT	Suitability analysis of mobile keeping of organic laying hens in organic apple orchards	01.04.2020	31.12.2021
completed	DE	Organic turkey production: Requirement adjusted amino acid and vitamin supply under consideration of genotype, feeding strategy and husbandry conditions	03.03.2020	30.06.2024
completed	DE	Informationsveranstaltungen für Ferkelerzeuger und Schweinemäster zu den Alternativen zur betäubungslosen Ferkelkastration (Los 5: Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Thüringen)	13.01.2020	31.08.2020
completed	DE	Organization and implementation of the organic field days 2021	13.01.2020	31.10.2022
ongoing	CH	Wurmbekämpfung bei Legehennen	01.01.2020	31.12.2024
completed	CH	Weideparasiten über das Weidemanagement kontrollieren. In intensiven Systemen effizient umsetzbar? (Weidemanagement Trade-off)	01.01.2020	30.06.2024
completed	CH	Support for free-range pig farming (Feel Free)	01.01.2020	31.12.2023
completed	DE	Progress with competence and specialist knowledge for animal well-being, environmentally friendly and sustainable livestock farming (Fokus Tierwohl)	19.12.2019	31.12.2023
completed	CH	Wiesenschwein, das Zukunftsschwein	01.11.2019	01.03.2022
completed	AT	Austrian laying hen husbandry as a model for a change in animal welfare using the example of fattening poultry husbandry	01.07.2019	25.02.2020
completed	CH	Rethinking of Antimicrobial Decision-Systems in the Management of Animal Production (ROADMAP)	01.06.2019	20.05.2023
ongoing	CH	Development of organic dairy cattle breeding ("Bio-Semen-Straws") (Bio-KB-Stiere)	01.04.2019	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Reduction of protein concentrates on intensive organic dairy farms (REiM-Projekt)	01.01.2019
completed	CH	SMAll RuminanTs breeding for Efficiency and Resilience (SMARTER) (SMARTER)	01.11.2018	31.10.2022
completed	CH DE	Preserving Bavarian knowledge for the treatment of farm animals with medicinal plants and natural products	01.10.2018	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Mutterkuh Betrieben	01.10.2018	01.04.2019
completed	CH	Carbon footprint and lifetime daily yield of Swiss dairy cows	15.08.2018	31.01.2019
completed	AT	Hintergrundstudie für den WWF Fleischratgeber Bewertung von verschiedenen österreichischen Fleischsorten in Hinblick auf a) ausgewählte ökologische Indikatoren und b) das Tierwohl	07.08.2018	05.10.2018
completed	CH	Developing SUstainable PERmanent Grassland systems and policies (SUPER-G)	01.06.2018	29.02.2024
completed	DE	Praxisgerechte Ferkelkastration unter Betäubung und postoperativer Schmerzausschaltung in der ökologischen Ferkelerzeugung / Schweinehaltung (Ferkelkastration)	01.06.2018	31.05.2020
completed	CH	POWER (Tierwohl und Resilienz in der Bioschweinehaltung) (POWER)	01.05.2018	01.11.2021
completed	CH	Replacement of Contentious Inputs in organic farming Systems (RELACS)	01.05.2018	30.04.2022
completed	CH	ProYoungStock- Promoting young stock and cow health and welfare by natural feeding systems (ProYoungStock)	01.04.2018	30.09.2021
completed	DE	Organisation und Durchführung der Öko-Feldtage 2019	01.03.2018	31.08.2019
completed	CH	Behavioral indicators of early heat stress in dairy cows in pasture-based systems in Switzerland	01.03.2018	31.01.2022
completed	CH	Verbuschung, Problempflanzen und Bewirtschaftungsplanung auf Alpweiden: Weiterentwicklung, Vereinheitlichung und Digitalisierung des Beratungsangebots (DigiPlanAlp)	01.03.2018	28.02.2019
completed	CH	Leaflet on free-range pig production	03.01.2018	31.12.2018
completed	CH	Erhaltung der dunklen Bienen durch eine extensive bienengemässe Bioimkerei (Projekt Dunkle Bienen)	01.01.2018	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Determinants for a locally adapted sustainable agriculture in Switzerland (WWF-tLWS)	01.01.2018	30.06.2018
ongoing	CH	Hof- und Weideschlachtung	01.01.2018
completed	CH	Bio Weidemast von Milchrassenochsen und Rindern als Banktiere, Aldi Bio Weide Rind (ABWR)	01.01.2018	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Coop Organic Facts	01.11.2017	30.05.2018
completed	DE AT	Sustainable pig production systems (SusPigSys)	01.09.2017	30.11.2020
completed	FR	Sheep in vineyards: toxicity risk evaluation of vineyard copper treatment on sheep	01.09.2017	01.09.2019
completed	FR CH	Health of small ruminants and pigs (TRANSAAT)	01.09.2017	30.09.2020
ongoing	CH	Our pig (Development of an alternative pig breed)	01.09.2017	31.12.2030
completed	CH	GenTORE - Genomic management tools to optimize resilience and efficiency (GenTORE)	01.08.2017	31.07.2022
completed	CH	Bio-Kälbermast an Müttern und Ammen	01.08.2017	31.12.2019
completed	DE	Kompetenzzentrum für die Demonstrationsbetriebe im Bereich Tierschutz	01.07.2017	30.06.2021
completed	DE	Nachhaltige Geflügelproduktion	01.06.2017	31.01.2018
completed	AT	Participation project and transfer of knowledge to extended suckling period on organic piglet farms (Verlängerte Säugezeit)	01.06.2017	31.05.2020
completed	CH FR	Sustainable parasite management in cattle and horses	01.04.2017	30.04.2020
ongoing	CH	Monitoring of horse parasites	01.04.2017
completed	CH	Wissensaufbau und -vermittlung im Bereich Mutter- und Ammengebundene Kälberaufzucht	01.04.2017	31.12.2019
completed	CH	Feeding of organic pigs in consideration of fat quality requirements and 100 % organic feeding (Bioschwein100.0)	01.03.2017	31.10.2020
ongoing	CH	Albert Koechlin Stiftung: Promoting regional organic farming and animal welfare	01.03.2017
completed	DE	Adequate organic feeding of poultry according to their requirements - focus: new sources of riboflavin (vitamin B2)	01.01.2017	31.03.2020
ongoing	CH	Ausnahmebewilligungen für durch den Tierarzt verordnete Futtermittel (Vetpermis)	01.01.2017
completed	CH	ImproCalf - Improvement of veal calf health through adaption of rearing conditions on dairy farms (ImproCalf)	01.10.2016	30.09.2019
completed	CH	Ethical and ecological assessment of alternatives to culling of 1-day male chicks	01.10.2016	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Innovations for a future-oriented consumption and animal production (NOVAnimal)	01.09.2016	30.09.2018
completed	CH	Schwere Ochsen (Schwere Ochsen)	01.08.2016	30.09.2018
completed	DE	Öko-Feldtage 2017	01.07.2016	30.09.2017
completed	DE	Betriebsentwicklung Nachhaltige Landwirtschaft - Betriebsentwicklung in Richtung auf mehr Tierwohl (besonders tiergerechte Haltung, Tierschutz), Los 2	30.03.2016	31.12.2019
completed	CH	Combining the 'eye of the stockman' and precision farming techniques to improve pig welfare (PigWatch)	01.03.2016	28.02.2019
completed	CH	Status quo: Dental health in Swiss dairy cows (Rinderzähne)	01.11.2015	31.12.2016
completed	CH	Enhancing Food Security and Agricultural Sustainability by Integrating Production Systems: Promotion of Low Input Dairy Management at Mirim Farm in DPR of Korea	01.11.2015	31.10.2016
completed	DE	Improving nutrition by integrating low-input livestock and crop production in sustainable farm management in DPR of Korea (LiveCrop (DPR Korea))	01.04.2015	31.12.2018
completed	CH	The use of roughages to improve health and welfare of male pigs (CochonVert)	01.01.2015	31.12.2017
ongoing	CH	Lectures biodynamic school Rheinau	01.01.2015
completed	CH	Determine and optimize the carcass fat quality of organic pigs	01.06.2014	01.06.2016
completed	DE	Kompetenzzentrum für die Demonstrationsbetriebe im Bereich Tierschutz	01.05.2014	30.06.2017
ongoing	CH	Unterricht SHI Homöopathie Schule (Unterricht SHI Homöopathie Schule)	09.04.2014
completed	CH	Alternative pig breeds for organic farms	01.04.2014	01.04.2015
completed	CH	Extensively fattening the laying hens' brothers instead of killing them as chicks	01.01.2014	31.12.2016
ongoing	CH	Impact of farm, transport, and stunning procedure on stress-related parameters in pigs (Transport und Schlachtung)	01.10.2013
completed	CH	Assessment of Sustainable Provision of Goods and Services from Grassland-based Systems	01.06.2013	31.05.2014
completed	CH	Erforschung von Merkmalen der effizienten Raufutterkuh mit Hilfe von Fress- und Wiederkäusensoren (Rumiwatch)	01.04.2013	31.10.2015
completed	CH	Grassland-based Progress: food autonomy and land development in the canton of Vaud (Progrès Herbe)	05.03.2013	31.12.2018
completed	CH	Nachhaltige Milchproduktion in der Juraregion, Minimierung von Antibiotika und Kraftfutter in der Milchviehhaltung	01.01.2013	31.12.2015
ongoing	CH	Publication d’articles dans l’AGRI (Journal agricole principal de Suisse romande)	01.01.2013
completed	CH	Open yards for laying hens (BLW Laufhof)	01.01.2013	30.09.2015
completed	CH	Auswirkung der Gruppenzusammensetzung und Förderung der Umsetzung der Ebermast (FairPig)	01.05.2012	30.11.2013
completed	CH	Effects of husbandry conditions on animal health in aquaculture. Comparative investigations on different husbandry regimes using the example of trout production in Switzerland	01.01.2012	31.01.2015
completed	CH	Efficient Forage Based Ruminant Systems (EFBS)	01.01.2012	31.12.2016
completed	CH	Organic pasture beef: Sustainability assessment of different cattle beef production systems in Switzerland (Bio Weidebeef)	01.10.2011	31.12.2014
ongoing	CH	Mother-bonded and fostered calf rearing (MAgKa)	01.10.2011
completed	CH	Herdengrösse in Bio-Legehennenhaltungen	01.01.2011	31.07.2012
completed	CH	Farm specific strategies to reduce environmental impact by improving health, welfare and nutrition of organic pigs (ProPig)	01.01.2011	31.08.2014
completed	CH	Strukturierung der freien Liegefläche in Laufställen mit behornten Milchkühen	01.10.2010	31.12.2012
ongoing	CH	Safeguarding traditional knowledge of livestock treatment with medicinal plants and natural substances	01.06.2010
completed	CH	Multi species swards and multi scale strategies for multifunctional grassland based ruminant production systems (MULTISWARD)	01.03.2010	28.02.2014
completed	CH	Feed no Food - influence of minimized concentrate feeding on animal health and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows (Feed no Food)	01.10.2009	01.10.2010
completed	CH	Development of integrated livestock breeding and management strategies to improve animal health, product quality and performance in European organic and 'low input' milk, meat and egg production (LOWINPUTBREEDS)	01.05.2009	30.04.2014
ongoing	CH	Transport and slaughter – improved cattle handling	01.09.2008
completed	CH	Good animal welfare in a socio-economic context: Project to promote insight on the impact for the animal, the production chain and society of upgrading animal welfare standards (ECONWELFARE)	01.08.2008	31.07.2011
ongoing	CH	Beratung für die Haltung von horntragenden Kühen in Laufställen	01.01.2008
completed	CH	Coop Naturaplan-Fonds: Einfluss von Diäten aus konventioneller und biologischer Erzeugung auf Gesundheits- und Leistungsparameter von Kaninchen	01.05.2006	01.05.2009
completed	CH	Group suckling of sows as a production system on organic farms	01.05.2005	31.03.2007
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Auslaufnutzung – optimale Strukturierung auf Praxisbetrieben	01.01.2004	31.03.2005
completed	CH	Ektoparasitenkontrolle	01.01.2004	31.12.2007
completed	CH	Dimensionierung und Gestaltung von Laufställen für behornte Milchkühe unter Berücksichtigung des Herdenmanagements	01.05.2003	31.12.2010
ongoing	CH	Pro-Q: On-Farm Research Network for Dairy Cattle	01.04.2003
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung – Einfluss der Herdengrösse auf Verhalten und Wohlergehen	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung – Einfluss der Herdengrösse auf die Grünauslaufnutzung	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Auslauf – Effekt von Staubbadeunterständen	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Auslaufnutzung durch Strukturierung verbessern	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Auslaufnutzung - Herdengewöhnung mit Körnern	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Auslaufnutzung - Herdengewöhnung mit Tunnel	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Bio Weide-Beef® (BWB)	01.01.2000	31.12.2007
completed	CH	Legehennenhaltung: Schreckreaktion von verschiedenen Hybriden	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
ongoing	AT	FREILAND-Tagung/IGN-Tagung	01.09.1994
ongoing	CH	Verhaltensbasierte Fütterung von Rindern (Weidelabor)

Overview over all themes and subthemes

Animal welfare & housing

What FiBL is doing on this theme

News on the theme

Relevant publications for practitioners

Projects on the theme

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