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Review
. 2023 Sep 6;13(18):2834.
doi: 10.3390/ani13182834.

Animal Health and Productivity of Organic Greek Pig Farms: The Current Situation and Prospects for Sustainability

Georgios I Papakonstantinou  1 , Ioannis Arsenakis  2 , Aris Pourlis  3 , Vasileios G Papatsiros  1
Affiliations
Review

Animal Health and Productivity of Organic Greek Pig Farms: The Current Situation and Prospects for Sustainability

Georgios I Papakonstantinou et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

A review of organic pig production in Greece was carried out. The aim was to present updated information on the production, development and health status of organic pig farming in Greece and potential prospects for sustainability and future development. The indigenous Greek Black Pig is the main breed reared in Greek organic pig farms. All the reasons why Greek Black Pig breeding is ideal for organic farming are mentioned. Furthermore, respiratory and parasitic infections are the most common health problems, while high piglet mortality rates are the main welfare issue in Greek organic pig farming. Concerns about how farmers and authorities should utilize the demands of modern consumers are discussed.

Keywords: Greece; farming; indigenous Greek Black Pig; organic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A breeding herd of indigenous Greek Black Pigs. Source: Personal archive of Dr Georgios I. Papakonstantinou.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A farrowing sow (indigenous Greek Black Pig) and suckling piglets. Source: Personal archive of Dr Georgios I. Papakonstantinou.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Crossbreed suckling piglets from an indigenous Greek black sow bred with a farmed wild boar. Personal archive of Prof. Vasileios Papatsiros.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Share of organic livestock in all livestock sectors by countries with the highest shares, 2020 (% of the number of heads) (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Fig6_Share_of_organic_livestock_in_all_livestock,_by_countries_with_the_highest_shares,_2020_(%25_of_number_of_heads).png#filelinks) (accessed on 28 March 2023).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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