Interazioni tra animali selvatici e suini domestici allo stato brado in un allevamento biologico nella Sila Grande

Free ranging farming systems present several positive aspects; however, there can be some negative effects, due to the natural factors to which the animals are exposed (e.g. possible interactions with wild animal species), that may have detrimental effects both on animal welfare and farm economics, and on the genetic of wild and domestic species. We analysed the interactions between a group of free ranging domestic pigs and wild animals (wild boar and predators) living in the same area. We verified the occurrence of spatial overlap between wild and domestic animals, especially between pigs and predators during the pigs birth season. Spatial overlap between pigs and predators jeopardises animal welfare: in fact, predation was the main responsible for piglets mortality. Genetic issues are raised by the spatial overlap and by the lack of breeding control, which lead to the presence of hybrids (wild boar x domestic pig, and vice versa) and of mixed breed pigs, which prevent the use of quality labels based on breed certification. All these aspects are detrimental to the farm economy.