Caractéristiques des élevages de porcs biologiques dans six pays européens

In order to identify risk factors for reproductive problems of sows, mortality of piglets, post‐weaning diarrhea and parasites, a study was carried out in 102 pig farms from six European countries (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Sweden). Results were based on a questionnaire addressing farm performance, animal and health management, housing conditions and sanitary problems. The pig farms surveyed had to have at least 15 reproductive sows and post‐weaning piglets. These criteria were fulfilled except for one farm where only fatteners were raised. In each country, farms included in the study represented more than 10% of the production of the national organic pig production. Results provide a good insight with respect to housing and management systems. Organic farms showed a high diversity of housing and management systems between and within countries and even within a farm. Outdoors systems are predominant for all types of pigs in Italy and Sweden, and for sows in France and Denmark whereas nearly all pigs are kept indoors in Austria and Germany. Organic pig production in Italy is highly different from all other countries with farms of small size and using local breed