Explore a variety of organic farming topics, join the discussions, and exchange ideas and information with colleagues and scientists.
One of the objectives of organic farming is to keep livestock healthy as a matter of principle, primarily by taking preventive measures. Livestock health depends on a range of factors such as the environment, feeding, housing, social behaviour within the herd or flock as well as general management and husbandry. Holistic animal health strategies consider all these factors; together, they underpin preventive herd/flock health management.
When food-producing animals fall ill they are largely treated using orthodox veterinary medicines, such as antibiotics. However, frequent use of antibiotics results in the development of antibiotics-resistant micro-organisms and these are now often found in farm animals. Moreover, via the animals’ faeces and urine such antibiotics-resistant micro-organisms are discharged into the environment where they may only slowly degrade.
In organic farming, preference is to be given to treating sick animals using complementary veterinary practices (e.g. phytotherapy or homoeopathy). Chemically-synthesized veterinary medication is to be reduced to a minimum and should only be resorted to in emergencies.
On this page, you can find tools and resources to help you keep your livestock healthy, and you can discuss the topic with others.
The dossier explains the basics of organic farming and shows how they are applied in practice. The publication is a valuable source of information for…
Three batches of pigs were raised with different rations to evaluate lucernes potential as pig feed. Two of the three batches had access to lucerne…
BauKost contains stables for dairy cows, rearing calves, young cattle, suckler cows, sows, fattening pigs, rearing piglets, laying hens, fattening…
Title | Issuing organisation | Project | Year of release | Rating |
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A basket of options to control worms in organic sheep production systems (RELACS... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , IFOAM Organics Europe , SRUC - Scotland's Rural College | 2022 | 5 (1) | |
Adding lactic acid bacteria via maize silage or to drinking water in organic... | ICROFS - International Centre for Research in... , AU - Aarhus University | 2021 | ||
Animal-friendly pig husbandry: an advisory tool for Swaziland | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Sahee Foundation | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2016 | |
Automatic manure scrapers for reduced ammonia emissions (POWER Practice... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | POWER | 2021 | |
Avoiding too large of a litter and piglet losses | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2015 | |
BauKost - Investment in farm buildings | KTBL - Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der... | 2024 | ||
Bio-étagères – Virtual "shelves" | ABioDoc - French Documentation Centre specialised... | 2021 | ||
Biobase - the most important french document archive specialised in organic... | ABioDoc - French Documentation Centre specialised... | 2021 | ||
Boar fattening on organic farms: animal-friendly alternative to castration | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2013 | |
Calf feeding and rearing of feeder calves | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bio Suisse , Demeter | 2022 | ||
Controlling endoparasites in laying hens | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2018 | 4 (1) |
Cow based calf rearing as a strategy to reduce antimicrobial use in dairy... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2023 | ||
Designing and optimising outdoor areas in organic poultry farming | ITAB - Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2018 | |
Designing pasture subdivisions for practical management of hogs | CEFS - Center for Environmental Farming Systems | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2015 | |
Duddingtonia flagrans: biocontrol fungus for reducing the use of anthelmintics... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2022 | ||
EBENE application for poultry welfare self-assessment by farmers | ITAVI - Institut Technique de l'Aviculture , ILVO - Flanders Research Institute for... , IFIP - Institut du Porc , INRAE - National Research Institute for... , JUNIA , Utrecht University | 2018 | 5 (4) | |
Ensiling legume forage pulp (ProRefine Practice Abstract) | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | ProRefine , CORE Organic Cofund | 2022 | |
Essential oil trials on-farm: an alternative treatment for mastitis (RELACS... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , IFOAM Organics Europe | RELACS | 2022 | |
Establishing forage turnip in the pasture outdoor area as supplementary feed to... | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2021 | |
Extended suckling period in organic piglet production | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2020 | ||
Faecal egg counts to improve worm control in organic sheep farming (RELACS... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , IFOAM Organics Europe , SRUC - Scotland's Rural College , Soil Association Certification , Soil Association Scotland | RELACS | 2020 | |
Farm system evaluated: pig farm in Centre region of France | SECALIBIO - Sécuriser les Systèmes Alimentaires en... | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | |
Feeding grass silage to fattening pigs (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | 4.5 (4) |
Feeding grass/clover silage to finisher pigs in addition to liquid feeding... | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2021 | |
Feeding phases of poultry: trail synthesis from Lycée Nature | ITAB - Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | |
Feeding strategies for laying hens in free-range systems with pasture | TUM - Technische Universität München | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2005 | |
FiBL Collaboration podcast | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2023 | ||
FiBL Focus podcast | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2020 | 4.5 (6) | |
Fodder trees for organic dairy goats | CCBT - Coordination centre for applied research... , Wim Govaerts , Odisee - University of Applied Sciences , Inagro | 2022 | ||
Foraging of broilers in outdoor areas (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract) | AU - Aarhus University | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | |
Foraging of pigs in outdoor areas (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract) | AU - Aarhus University | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | |
Foster cows and calves in co-grazing systems in Norway (CORE Organic Practice... | NORSØK - Norwegian Centre of Organic Agriculture | GrazyDaiSy | 2021 | |
Free stalls for horn-bearing dairy cows - Recommendations for dimensioning and... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , FiBL Deutschland , FiBL Österreich , Bioland Beratung | 2022 | ||
Free-range laying hens: providing species-appropriate and sustainable husbandry... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bioland Beratung , KÖN - Kompetenzzentrum Ökolandbau Niedersachsen , Bio Austria | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2010 | |
Free-range pigs: high animal welfare with appropriate infrastructure and... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | |
Group suckling in organic pig husbandry (FiBL Factsheet) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bioland Beratung , KÖN - Kompetenzzentrum Ökolandbau Niedersachsen | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2011 | |
Hair cortisol – a practical method for measuring chronic stress in cattle? (CORE... | NORSØK - Norwegian Centre of Organic Agriculture | GrazyDaiSy | 2021 | |
Hygiene management in organic pig husbandry (FiBL Factsheet) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bioland Beratung , KÖN - Kompetenzzentrum Ökolandbau Niedersachsen , Bio Austria | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2011 | |
Improving health and welfare of pigs - A handbook for organic pig farmers | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2015 | 4 (1) | |
Improving veterinarian’s knowledge of animal husbandry in organic agriculture in... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2023 | ||
Inducing moulting in organic hens | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | 5 (1) |
Introducing nettle into organic pig feeding | Chambres d’agriculture Pays de la Loire , ITAB - Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | 1 (1) |
Lactic acid bacteria supplements for organic broilers (OK-Net EcoFeed practice... | AU - Aarhus University | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2021 | |
Linseed supplementation for improvement of colostrum quality (Practice abstract... | Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology... | ProYoungStock | 2021 | |
Low Stress Stockmanship - Philipp Wenz demonstrates how to handle cattle without... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2018 | ||
Low-cost organic milk production: Once a day milking - Crossbreeding - Calf... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2021 | ||
Lucerne as pig feed | SECALIBIO - Sécuriser les Systèmes Alimentaires en... | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | 5 (1) |
Mother-bound calf rearing at the Rengoldshausen farm explained by Mechthild... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Hofgut Rengoldshausen | 2019 | ||
Multi-species livestock farming (MIX-ENABLE Practice Abstract) | INRAE - National Research Institute for... , CRA-W - Walloon Agricultural Research Centre , FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , University BOKU Wien , Thünen-Institut , Tuscia University , SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Mix-Enable , CORE Organic Cofund | 2021 | |
New vitamin B2 producing wild-type yeast strain (GMO-free) (RELACS Practice... | Thünen-Institut , FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , IFOAM Organics Europe | RELACS | 2023 | |
Optimising weaning management in piglets | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bioland Beratung , KÖN - Kompetenzzentrum Ökolandbau Niedersachsen , Bio Austria | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2011 | |
Optimizing the run-out design of fattening pigs (POWER video) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | POWER | 2022 | 1 (1) |
Organic farming: Basic principles and good practices | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2021 | ||
Organic free-range management of laying hens | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2001 | 4.5 (2) |
Organic free-range management of laying hens | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2022 | ||
Organic pig production in Europe: health management in common organic pig... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2011 | ||
Outdoor breeding of organic sows: a complete technical guide | Chambres d’agriculture Pays de la Loire | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | |
Physical protection barriers to reduce fungal and pest damages (DOMINO Practice... | Laimburg Research Centre | Domino , CORE Organic Cofund | 2021 | 1 (1) |
Phytotherapy – A strategy to reduce antimicrobials use (ROADMAP practice... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2023 | ||
Pig health booklet | WUR - Wageningen University & Research | 2022 | ||
PIGLOW application for animal welfare self-assessment by farmers | ILVO - Flanders Research Institute for... , IFIP - Institut du Porc , INRAE - National Research Institute for... , ITAVI - Institut Technique de l'Aviculture , JUNIA , Utrecht University | 2020 | 5 (8) | |
Plants and planting designs for organic poultry ranges | Økologisk Landsforening (Danish Organic National... | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2015 | |
Precision livestock farming: Lely - Isagri - Grunderco - DeLaval - Alptracker -... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2019 | ||
Prevent tail biting: watching – thinking – acting | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , FBN - Farmers Business Network , FLI - Friedrich Löffler Institut , WUR - Wageningen University & Research , INRAE - National Research Institute for... , CEA-Leti , DTI - Danish Technological Institute | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2017 | |
Promoting range use in broiler chickens (FreeBirds Practice Abstract) | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | FreeBirds , CORE Organic Cofund | 2021 | |
Promoting range use in laying hens (FreeBirds Practice Abstract) | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | FreeBirds , CORE Organic Cofund | 2021 | |
Protein extraction from forage legumes (ProRefine Practice Abstract) | AU - Aarhus University | ProRefine , CORE Organic Cofund | 2022 | |
Relevance of roughage feeding to pigs (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | |
Self-rearing of sows on organic farms | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2021 | ||
Separation and weaning of calves reared in cow-calf contact systems... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | ProYoungStock | 2021 | |
Silage with chicory to weaning pigs in multi-family pens (OK-Net Ecofeed Video) | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2020 | |
Simplifying feeding management between weaning and culling process: impact on... | SECALIBIO - Sécuriser les Systèmes Alimentaires en... | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2019 | |
Species-appropriate feeding of fattening pigs | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2021 | ||
Successful weaning of organic piglets | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , Bio Austria , Bioland , Bio Suisse , Demeter , IBLA Luxemburg , KÖN - Kompetenzzentrum Ökolandbau Niedersachsen | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2014 | |
Successful weaning of piglets – without antimicrobial use (ROADMAP practice... | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2023 | ||
Technical guide: tree-planning in poultry outdoor run | ITAVI - Institut Technique de l'Aviculture | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2014 | |
Thematic newsletters from Abiodoc | ABioDoc - French Documentation Centre specialised... | 2021 | ||
Use of a robot to feed roughage, improving welfare of broilers | SEGES | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2018 | |
Using an automatic straw-distributor to feed silage to pigs – A potential to... | SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | OK-Net EcoFeed | 2021 | |
Vitamin E supplementation - revised recommendations for organic dairy cow... | NIBIO - Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research | RELACS | 2022 | |
Welfare and environmental impact of organic pig production (POWER Factsheet) | FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture , University BOKU Wien , Center for Frilandsdyr , CREA - Council for Agricultural Research and... , INRAE - National Research Institute for... , RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden , Thünen-Institut , WUR - Wageningen University & Research | POWER | 2022 | 5 (1) |
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