Economic aspects of outdoor run management in organic broiler and pig systems

The PPILOW project identifies economically viable, welfare-enhancing practices for low-input outdoor and organic broiler and pig production. Key strategies include enriching outdoor runs with vegetation, implementing grazing management and crop rotation, using mobile housing, and reducing disease and parasitism risks. These practices improve animal welfare, health, and performance while managing costs through reduced veterinary expenses and higher market revenues. Proper fencing and guard animals limit predator contact and pathogen transmission. Costs for infrastructure like trees, fences, and shelters must be balanced against long-term savings and premium pricing opportunities. Findings are based on practitioner feedback and quantitative analysis under EU Horizon 2020 funding (grant agreement N°816172).