Programme
Towards animal oriented methods of rearing animals in organic production systems
International Training and Exchange workshop
20-22 February 2006, Driebergen, the Netherlands
One of the foundations of organic animal production systems is that animals are kept in a more natural way. In terms of housing, animals get more space, have access to outside areas and are fed organic rations. This results in unique, farm-specific production systems with emphasis on animal welfare and product quality. In recent years it has become clear that strategies to rear replacement animals are getting more important. There is a public demand for more animal oriented, sustainable production systems. Also farmers realize that rearing is the key to raise suitable animals that fit into their production system. Circumstances during the rearing period affect health, wellbeing and production, not only during the rearing period itself, but also during later life. In organic egg production and in organic milk production farmers realize that organic production requires organically sound rearing practices!
As part of the EU-programme QualityLowInputFood a meeting will be organised for researchers with as topic the case of rearing laying pullets and dairy calves.
The aims of the meeting are:
- Draw up scientific framework regarding importance of good rearing practices
- Exchange of ongoing research
- Translation of research findings to farmers’ practice
- Indicate future research needs and priorities
Programme
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Monday 20 February
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| 13.00 |
Arrival and registration
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| 13.30 |
Introduction
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| 14.00 |
Prof. Dr. Paul Koene, Animal Behaviourist, Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands
The importance of good rearing practices in animal husbandry; with emphasis on poultry and cattle.
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| 15.00 |
Ir. Monique Bestman, researcher Organic Poultry, Louis Bolk Institute, the Netherlands
Best rearing practices for organic laying hens: state of the art.
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| 15.30 |
Ir. Ron Methorst, AgroEco Consultancy, the Netherlands
How to support farmers in changing to animal oriented rearing: case of laying hens in the Netherlands
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| 16.15 |
Tea break
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| 16.45 |
Ir. Jos Langhout, researcher Dairy Cattle, Louis Bolk Institute, the Netherlands
Suckling systems in modern dairy farming
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| 17.15 |
Prof. Dr. Ton Baars, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
Suckling systems: validation of an alternative rearing system
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| 18.00 |
End of first day
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Monday evening we will have dinner together.
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Tuesday 21 February
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| 08.30 |
Field visits including lunch
Dairy cattle: Nils Spaans en Jan Vrolijk
Poultry rearing farm(s)
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| 14.30 |
Looking back at field visits: observations of participants
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| 15.15 |
Berry Reuvekamp, researcher Organic Poultry, Animal Sciences Group, WUR, the Netherlands
How can we address man-animal relation in research?
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| 15.45 |
Tea Break
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| 16.00 |
Presentation of participants’ research
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| 17.30 |
End of second day
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Wednesday 22 February
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| 09.00 |
Prof. Dr. Ute Knierim, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
Veterinary consequences of animal oriented pullet rearing
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| 10.00 |
Dr. Kathryn Ellis, Glasgow Veterinary School, UK
Animal health in organic dairy production in practice
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| 11.00 |
Coffee break
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| 11.30 |
Final session: put together important conclusions and findings; indicate future research needs and priorities
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| 12.30 |
Lunch and departure
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Further information
Information can be obtained from Jan-Paul Wagenaar, Louis Bolk Instituut, info@louisbolk.nl
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