Ruwvoeropname bij biologisch gehouden drachtige zeugen = Roughage intake in organic housed gestating sows

Three experiments were conducted to determine the individual intake and digestibility of a number of roughages and some qualities fresh grass in organic housed pregnant sows. Roughage supply is obligated for the European organic pig husbandry. Although access to pasture is not compulsory for organic housed pregnant sows, the meat processing industry has put it as a condition for maintaining price guarantees of organic meat. Sows are using pasture as both walking and feed source area. As roughage and fresh grass intake of pregnant sows and the nutritional value of these products are not known, it was not possible to calculate the amount of concentrate that could safely be replaced by roughages.