Health, robustness and behaviors of the species

WP6 focusses on innovative solutions for favoring positive behaviors, health and robustness and aims to create knowledge that improve adaptation to organic and outdoor systems for laying hens, slow-growing broilers and pigs. Health, robustness and welfare were improved through appropriate feeding, management and housing, better exploration of outdoor areas in interaction with genetic background. Results from experimental research have been tested for implementation on poultry and pig farms. In slow-growing broilers, factors that have significantly improved the use and exploration of outdoor area have been identified, and health and welfare-related traits, data on performance, meat quality and environment have been monitored. The stimulation the adaptive capacities of slow-growing broilers by adjusting early life management has been tested in order to improve their resilience, being essential for health and welfare during their production in organic environmental conditions. Strategies have been developed that limit intestinal parasitic and bacterial infections in poultry and pigs through the introduction of different feed supplements (plants/extracts, fermented feed), with beneficial properties to efficiently reduce the incidence of parasite infections, especially in pigs. Piglet survival and sow welfare have been studied and improved by combining selective breeding and innovation within farrowing house design for outdoor rearing.