There are common animal welfare challenges related to piglet mortality and health problems around weaning. Further, outdoor concrete runs in systems for growing-finishing pigs challenge the organic goals of and are associated with a high risk of ammonia emissions, while pasture systems do facilitate natural living, but are challenged by a high risk of nutrient leaching.

The tool offers a common toolbox of knowledge-based strategies for designing and managing concrete outdoor runs, reducing piglet mortality and health problems and improving system resilience and sustainability.

The handbook summarizes the results of the Core Organic Cofund project POWER, aiming to increase animal health and welfare of organic pigs while reducing the environmental footprint of the farming systems. It provides a common toolbox of knowledge-based strategies for designing and managing concrete outdoor runs, reducing piglet mortality and health problems and improving system resilience and sustainability. Best practices and innovative examples from across Europe are presented to inspire and facilitate the continuous development of an economically competitive production, which meets the principles of organic farming. The target group are organic pig farmers, but conventional pig farmers can also gain insights from the material.