Since 1. January 2022, organic pigs must be fed 100 % organic. This poses the challenge that the requirements for carcasses, in particular fat quality, must continue to be adequately met in order to maintain the high Swiss standard in the production of organic pork.
The "Bioschwein 100.0" project carried out at by FiBL between 2017 and 2020 has shown that pigs fed a 100 % organic diet have PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) levels in their backfat that are on average 2 percentage points higher. Thus, the compliance with the previous PUFA limits to ensure fat quality (Proviande, 2014) is no longer possible.
As a result, an industry agreement was reached that includes an adjustment of the PUFA thresholds for a limited period of two years. It means that the limits for PUFA will be maintained from March 2022 onward, but the deduction levels will be adjusted. Nevertheless, it can be expected that some farms will exceed these limits and receive monetary deductions for their carcasses. Therefore, it is essential to provide support and advice in this delicate phase of feed conversion so that 100 % organic feeding can be successfully implemented and is not disadvantageous for organic pig producers.
Project implementation
