Alternative Practices in Organic Dairy Production and Effects on Animal Behavior, Health, and Welfare

Abstract

The number of organic dairy farms has increased because of the increased growth of the organic market, higher organic milk price, and because some consumers prefer to purchase products from less intensive production systems. Best management practices are expected from organic dairy farms to ensure animal health and milk production. Organic dairy producers typically transition from conventional systems to avoid chemicals and pesticides, enhance economic viability, improve the environment, and increase soil fertility. Organic dairy producers respect and promote a natural environment for their animals, is also an important component of animal welfare. Organic producers have few options to mitigate pain in dairy calves. In the United States, therapies to mitigate pain for disbudded organic dairy calves are regulated by the US National Organic Program. Organic producers regularly use naturally derived alternatives for the treatment of health disorders of dairy calves, heifers, and cows. Alternative natural products may provide an option to mitigate pain in organic dairy calves. Despite the reluctance to implement pain alleviation methods, some organic farmers have expressed interest in or currently implement plant-based alternatives. Efficacy studies of alternative remedies for organic livestock are needed to verify that their use improves animal welfare. Non-effective practices represent a major challenge for organic dairy animal welfare. The relationship between humans and animals may be jeopardized during milking because first-lactation cows may exhibit adverse behaviors during the milking process, such as kicking and stomping. The periparturient period is particularly challenging for first-lactation cows. Adverse behaviors may jeopardize animal welfare and reduce safety for humans because stressed heifers may kick off the milking unit, kick at milkers, and display other unwanted behaviors in the milking parlor. This may reduce milking efficiency, overall production, and ultimately reduce the profitability of the dairy farm. Positive animal welfare is a challenging balancing act between the three overlapping ethic concerns. Identifying animal welfare deficits in organic livestock production is the first step in capitalizing on these opportunities to improve welfare.

The Welfare of Dairy Cows in Pasture, Free Stall, and Compost Barn Management Systems in a Brazilian Subtropical Region

“…The association between positive emotions and permanence in pasture was also demonstrated by Motupalli et al [ 69 ] because cows had a preference to spend more time on pasture (68.7% of the day) than in FS. Although animal preferences are not directly related to better AW [ 70 ], they are related to a more positive emotional state. Cows kept on pasture can spend up to 68% of the daily time in feeding behaviors, however when cows are kept in confinement, only 22% of the daily time is devoted to this behavioral category [ 14 ], differing from the natural behavior [ 71 ], favoring temporal leisure and negative emotional states [ 72 ].…”

Organic dairy farming in Bangladesh: current status, challenges and prospects

“…Ineffective practices pose a significant challenge for organic dairy animal welfare. The human-animal relationship can also be strained during milking, as firstlactation cows may exhibit adverse behaviors like kicking and stomping (Phillips and Heins, 2021). EU regulations pertaining to organic dairy cattle and their impact on animal welfare argue that identifying welfare deficits in organic livestock production is the initial step toward enhancing welfare.…”

Antibacterial Activity of Tanacetum vulgare L. Extracts against Clinical Isolates of Bovine Mastitis

“…To achieve the goals set, it is necessary to improve disease prevention and husbandry practices [7][8][9]. Alternative treatments and prophylactic measures have been suggested and used in conventional and organic farms [5,8,10].…”

“…As alternative therapy or co-combined with standard treatment, medicinal plants have a promising place in battling infections [5,10,11]. Although herbal medicine for the treatment and prevention of bovine mastitis has been in use for decades [11], research reports are lacking [8,12].…”