Chapter 8 - Proper Farm Management Strategies for Safer Organic Animal Farming Practice

Abstract

The demand for organically grown farm animals is sharply increasing due to a growing consumer need for chemical- and antibiotic-free products having minimum contaminates or hazards, and without long-term consequences on human health and animal welfare standards. Scientific literature suggests that control of animal diseases and prevention of cross-contamination with zoonotic pathogens is a major challenge in organic animal production systems. However, implementation of effective management practices can solve or minimize these challenges, and organic animal producers can achieve and maintain high standards of health and welfare for their farm animals, assuring the quality of products meet consumers’ demand. There are several reasons for taking up animal husbandry and proper farm management as part of our farming activities or even as the main one. In this chapter, we highlight the most recent aspects of and future directions for animal husbandry and the management practices that will guide people involved in this business.