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Imprint
Minimising medicine use in organic dairy herds through animal health and welfare planning (2006-1903)
Project
Project code: 2807OE003
Contract period: 15.06.2007
- 31.10.2010
Budget: 63,944 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
It is the aim of this subproject to (1) provide input for the development of animal health and welfare planning principles for organic dairy farms based on experiences currently made in an ongoing project (03OE406; mainly regarding health parameters), (2) complement already existing herd health plans regarding welfare issues and to subsequently assess the efficiency of such animal-health-and-welfare-plans (AHW plans) in 20 organic dairy herds in Germany and (3), develop guidelines for communication about animal health and welfare promotion using the 'Stable School system'. For this purpose, health indicators (regarding mastitis, lameness, metabolic disorders, reproductive disorders, calf diseases) and respective goals, as well as protocols and practical experiences from project 03OE406 will be provided to the project partners. Repeated farm visits to 20 dairy farms will allow for the on-farm assessment of mainly animal-based health and welfare indicators. Health plans have already been implemented on the farms before start of the project and the first visit will be used to check the efficiency of herd health plans with regard to health indicators. An AHW plan focussing on animal welfare will additionally be implemented and its efficiency also be controlled during the second farm visit (approximately 6 months after the first visit). Existing alternative advisory systems such as farmer groups will be evaluated and 3 regional farmer meetings will be organized in order to initiate 'stable schools' regarding AHW-plans and the minimisation of medicine use through animal health and welfare promotion and disease prevention. Following the Danish approach, these meetings will only be facilitated by the project but aim at creating an exchange between farmers.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
