We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Animal health in the food chain management in organic dairy farming - an intervention- and coaching-study based on preven-ive animal health concepts
Project
Project code: 03OE406
Contract period: 01.09.2004
- 31.05.2008
Budget: 286,225 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
It was the aim of the first part of the study to (1) develop a preventive animal health management concept for organic dairy farming taking lameness as an example and (2), to validate this concept as well as to demonstrate its feasibility in an intervention study in organic dairy farms. For this purpose, the lameness status of 43 organic dairy farms was investigated during three years (2005-2007). In intervention farms, farm-individual lameness control plans were developed. There was a greater decrease in lameness prevalence in intervention farms than in control farms (intervention: -18,3 % (absolute); control: -4,5 %), thus demonstrating the effectiveness of such an individual herd planning tool. In the second part, it was the aim to (1) identify major indicators of animal health in organic dairy farming (i.e. mastitis, lameness, metabolic disorders, reproductive disorders, calf diseases) and to define respective goals, (2) to provide guidelines for the development of herd health plans based on these indicators and, (3) to carry out an implementation study on representative dairy farms taking farmers, veterinary surgeons as well as other advisors into account. 44 organic dairy farms were visited four times during 2006 and 2007. Following a thorough assessment, herd health plans were developed in 28 farms; herd health was then monitored for one year. After one year, treatment incidence for clinical mastitis was significantly lower in intervention farms. Other health indicators were not significantly different. However, this should be viewed in the light of a rather short period after implementation of the herd health plans.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
