The technical guide "Successful weaning of organic piglets" describes how to wean piglets without the use of antibiotics. It is the first of a series of FiBL technical guides providing approaches to disease prevention and careful handling of young animals. A series intended to strengthen farm animal health and reduce antibiotic use in organic farming.

The World Health Organization WHO ranks the rise of antibiotic resistance as one of the top ten global health threats to humanity. Since any antibiotic use also increases the risk for the emergence and spread of resistance, prudent use of antibiotics in livestock production is necessary.

The consortium of the H2020 project "Roadmap" wanted to know which strategies organic farming can use to strengthen the health of farm animals and thus reduce the use of antibiotics. Researchers from FiBL Switzerland focused on mother-bonded and fostered calf rearing, weaning of organic piglets, and the use of herbal medicines in young animals.

Technical guides in several languages

This organic knowledge will be available to agricultural producers in a series technical guides in different languages. The series starts with the guide on weaning piglets in organic pig farming. It describes the measures that can be taken to prevent problems and strengthen the health of the piglets. The guide is now also available  in French and English (see FIBL website). Translations of other guides will also soon be available for download free of charge from the FiBL Shop.

Download the guide HERE

Source: FIBL