Impact of animal health and welfare planning on medicine use, herd health and production in European organic dairy farms

Ivemeyer, Silvia; Smolders, G.; Brinkmann, Jan; Gratzer, Elisabeth; Hansen, Benni Winding; Henriksen, Britt I. F.; Huber, Johann; Leeb, Christine; March, Solveig; Mejdell, Cecilie Marie; Nicholas, Phillipa; Roderick, Stephen; Stöger, Elisabeth; Vaarst, M.; Whistance, Lindsay; Winckler, Christoph; Walkenhorst, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2011.12.023

Cited by 63 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Mastitis and genital internal infections occur mostly after calving, and represent a considerable economic loss for organic dairy herds, considering that the withdrawal period after a treatment with antibiotics is twice as long compared to conventional farming [107,132,133,134]. Replacement by herbal preparations could be helpful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of Organic Livestock with Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review of European Ethnoveterinary Research

et al. 2014

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Background: The EC Regulation for Organic Farming states that organic livestock should be treated preferably with phytotherapeutic products. In spite of the high importance of organic livestock in Europe, primarily ruminants, today almost no phytotherapeutic product is registered for livestock. Also, information regarding veterinary phytotherapy is rare. The aim of this paper is to find approaches to cope with health problems of organic ruminants in Europe on the basis of findings from the European ethnoveterinary medicine (EuEVM). Methods: A systematic review of ethno-biomedicinal papers was conducted with the aid of the Scopus database, and 75 papers, from European countries were analyzed regarding ethnoveterinary information. Results: A total of 590 plant species referring to 102 different plant families are reported to be used for animal treatment, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae being the most important families. The traditional use of some plant species (e.g. mallow, chamomile, wormwood) corresponds with findings from recent scientific literature. The large number of less studied plant species, such as white lupin as an antiparasitic herb, and Helleborus spp. as potential immunostimulatory agent, opens an interesting field for future research. Conclusions: In general, EuEVM provides interesting treatment approaches for gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders as well as parasitosis. Findings regarding disorders of female genital or respiratory tract are less consistent. Nevertheless, EuEVM offers a solid basis for stimulating research in veterinary phytotherapy in Europe with a perspective to solve animal health problems in organic or even nonorganic ruminant production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of Organic Livestock with Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review of European Ethnoveterinary Research

et al. 2014

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“…On the other hand, organic cows are challenged less on high production and have, for example, lower incidences of ketosis (Zom and Smolders, 2009). Also in European research in organic dairy herds, incidences of metabolic disease are low (Ivemeijer et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

Haas

Smolders

Hoorneman

et al. 2013

Animal

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Data from 113 Dutch organic farms were analysed to determine the effect of cross-breeding on production and functional traits. In total, data on 33 788 lactations between January 2003 and February 2009 from 15 015 cows were available. Holstein-Friesian pure-bred cows produced most kg of milk in 305 days, but with the lowest percentages of fat and protein of all pure-bred cows in the data set. Cross-breeding Holstein dairy cows with other breeds (Brown Swiss, Dutch Friesian, Groningen White Headed, Jersey, Meuse Rhine Yssel, Montbé liarde or Fleckvieh) decreased milk production, but improved fertility and udder health in most crossbred animals. In most breeds, heterosis had a significant effect (P , 0.05) on milk (kg in 305 days), fat and protein-corrected milk production (kg in 305 days) and calving interval (CI) in the favourable direction (i.e. more milk, shorter CI), but unfavourably for somatic cell count (higher cell count). Recombination was unfavourable for the milk production traits, but favourable for the functional traits (fertility and udder health). Farm characteristics, like soil type or housing system, affected the regression coefficients on breed components significantly. The effect of the Holstein breed on milk yield was twice as large in cubicle housing as in other housing systems. Jerseys had a negative effect on fertility only on farms on sandy soils. Hence, breed effects differ across farming systems in the organic farming and farmers can use such information to dovetail their farming system with the type of cow they use.

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“…However, they normally suffer from lack of knowledge with regard to the management of animal health suitable to this type of production, such that it "sustains and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible" (according to IFOAM). The focus is to achieve and maintain high herd health and welfare status with low usage of veterinary medicines [95]. The EC regulations for organic farming [28] state that organic livestock should be treated preferably with phytotherapeutic products.…”

Section: Animal Health Welfare and Technical Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

Escribano¹

2016

Organic Farming - A Promising Way of Food Production

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The livestock sector is of great importance for the sustainability of rural economies and many ecosystems; however, it also has a high environmental impact. Due to the growing demand for animal products, there is a need to design new livestock production systems that allow the combination of food security and sustainability. Within this context, organic livestock may be a useful strategy to achieve such a pivotal goal. However, there is a lack of studies that integrate the existing knowledge, specifically in organic livestock, and integrating the main aspects implied in its practice (its externalities and challenges). The present work aims to fill this knowledge gap, providing strategies and insights that will help stakeholders and policy makers to improve the sustainability of both the organic sector itself and that of the whole food system.

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Impact of animal health and welfare planning on medicine use, herd health and production in European organic dairy farms

Cited by 63 publications

References 26 publications

Treatment of Organic Livestock with Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review of European Ethnoveterinary Research

Treatment of Organic Livestock with Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review of European Ethnoveterinary Research

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

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