Organic farming - a challenge to nutritionists

This paper is a position paper summarising the stare of research within org anic animal production in Denmark with emphasis on cattle, pigs and poultry . The goal of 100% organic feed in 2005 within EU for organic farmstock req uires a high level of self-supply. Cereals and straw are limited. Forage an d roughage must be part of the daily feed. The ban on GMOs, synthetic amino acids and vitamins, organic solvents, medicinal substances and early weani ng reduces the number of alternatives. Research is highly needed: 1. To est ablish the requirements and supply of energy, essential amino acids, vitami ns and minerals under organic farming conditions with slow-growing breeds, 2. To develop feeding concepts in order to improve the resistance to infect ious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, 3. To improve product quality and production economy. The challenge to nutritionists is to solve these pr oblems in a way compatible with the holistic idea of organic farming and fa rm life.