| Farm animals are an important an integrated part of | | | | fill trophic niches that otherwise would not be utilized, |
| most organic farms. They make valuable contributions | | | | for example marginal lands otherwise unsuitable for |
| to the productivity and sustainability of organic | | | | agriculture. However, in order to create sustainable |
| agricultural systems. In addition to this strong | | | | agroecosystems, the animal component must meet |
| economic bond between humans and animals in | | | | certain requirements:- |
| organic farming, there also is a moral (and sometimes | | | | 1. The selection of species and breeds must be |
| emotional) bond to animals as sentient and fellow | | | | adapted to crop production suitable for the area, to |
| beings on this planet. This imposes a responsibility on | | | | available resources on the farm or in the region, and |
| humans for the welfare of farm animals. However, | | | | to local agro-climatic conditions. |
| the development of organic animal husbandry has | | | | 2. The number of animals must be balanced in relation |
| been slower than the organic plant production. There | | | | to the possible crop production and available |
| are several reasons for this, historical and philosophical | | | | resources. |
| as well as the fact that research on animal production | | | | 3. Rearing systems must be designed to avoid |
| often is more expensive and difficult to carry out | | | | harming the environment and to minimize the use of |
| compared to crop research. However, organic animal | | | | fossil energy. |
| research has increased considerably in several | | | | Ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, have a |
| European countries lately and resulting from this, | | | | particularly important role in agroecosystems since |
| improved efficiency and productivity can be | | | | they process leguminous forage plants. These are the |
| expected in organic animal production, as well as | | | | backbone of organic crop production because of their |
| better animal welfare. | | | | ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. To obtain sufficient |
| There is a big interest in organic farming in Europe, | | | | nitrogen in an organic crop rotation, about one-third |
| both among politicians, consumers and farmers. | | | | of the crops should be legumes. In practice this |
| Organic agriculture is subsidized by the EU, and the | | | | means that organic animal production must be based |
| Commission is currently working on an Action Plan for | | | | on ruminants (and that these are fed like ruminants). |
| organic food and agriculture. Animals are an important | | | | In contrast, monogastric animal, such as pig and |
| part of most organic farms and research to develop | | | | poultry, require high quality protein in their diets. |
| better organic systems is now performed in many | | | | These animals can be considered as competing with |
| European countries. Thus we can expect organic | | | | humans for food, at least to the extent they use |
| animal production to increase during the years to | | | | protein sources suitable for direct human |
| come. At the same time there are challenges and | | | | consumption. Thus, it is sometimes argued that |
| dilemmas that the organic movement and organic | | | | monogastric animals should be considered marginal in |
| farmers must face and solve to improve animal | | | | organic farming, primarily to be fed on agricultural |
| production and to maintain credibility and trust among | | | | wastes. They also can contribute to the |
| consumers, for example in relation to animal welfare. | | | | agroecosystem by producing useful services, such as |
| In organic farming, agriculture is often referred to as | | | | biological weed or pest control. |
| an agroecosystem. An agroecosystem is a | | | | Development approaches for organic animal |
| community of plants and animal interaction with their | | | | production in developing countries has to be based on |
| physical and chemical environments that have been | | | | realistic and practical situations. First, one must |
| modified by people to produce feed, fibers and other | | | | recognize the limitation and complexities of export |
| products for human consumption and processing. The | | | | market for animal products, while there exists |
| goal of organic farming is to design a quilt of | | | | greater market opportunities for organic animal |
| agroecosystems within a landscape unit, each | | | | products locally, for instance indigenous chicken meat |
| mimicking the structure and function of local, natural | | | | and eggs. Practical approaches for organic farming |
| ecosystems, thus acquiring their resilience and | | | | should be based on and developed from locally |
| sustainability. Ideally, the organic farmer manipulates | | | | existing animal production systems which already |
| the natural ecosystem to achieve sustainable | | | | have close resemblance to prescribed organic |
| production, using an understanding of ecological | | | | practices, such as those mentioned earlier for |
| relationships while trying to minimize the use of | | | | ruminant and indigenous chicken production. The local |
| external inputs and harm to the environment. | | | | standards and guidelines for organic animal farming |
| Although it is possible to create agroecosystems | | | | ought to be initially considered and developed from |
| without farm animal, animal provide substantial | | | | such existing animal husbandry practices. Further |
| advantages for system productivity and sustainability. | | | | development of such standards will be a continuous |
| For example, farm animal have an important role in | | | | process based on practical experiences gained from |
| processing biomass and recycling nutrients. Organic | | | | production, processing, and marketing of the resulted |
| farming systems with herbivores are generally more | | | | organic animal products. |
| productive than those without them. The animals can | | | | |