Is the Modern High Potential Dairy Cow Suitable for Organic Farming Conditions?

Abstract

<p/> <p>It is not acceptable to compromise animal welfare in any system of farming. Feeding should be aimed at meeting the nutritional requirements at the various stages of production. This paper deals with the detrimental effects that organic, extensive or low input farming systems may have on the energy status in early lactation of the high potential dairy cow. Bovine ketosis is the most important disease resulting from insufficient energy intake in early lactation. It is also important to realize that ketosis is a part of the so-called periparturient disease complex, which includes milk fever, mastitis, retained placenta, endometritis and poor fertility also. All these diseases are interrelated and reflect to a large extent the nutritional status of the animal. If organic dairy farming is to be successful the breeding programmes have to divert from selection for high yields as a main goal, to more emphasis on a flatter lactation curve, less production diseases and longevity.</p

Organic Feed: A Bottleneck for the Development of the Livestock Sector and Its Transition to Sustainability?

“…After the regulatory change, new studies (e.g., reference [44]) assessed the effects of turning to a 100% organic feed on the metabolic and health statuses of organic dairy cows. Although the authors recommended that the results of their study be interpreted cautiously due to its size, most of the results were biologically reasonable and agreed with previously published results [41,43,[45][46][47][48], finding no evidence that organic cows were more challenged metabolically under the new legislation or that organic cows in early lactation had any signs of severe NEB. Therefore, the authors concluded that the change in regulation and, thus, the obligation to feed livestock 100% organically should not give rise to concerns about NEB in early lactation cows in organic herds.…”

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

“…Because of the high genetic potential for production of HF cattle, they had difficulties coping with organic environments, and showed an increased risk of lower (udder) health and fertility status (Hardarson, 2001;Nauta et al, 2005). The exploitation of other breeds than HF, or crosses involving HF, might provide an alternative to overcome these declined performances.…”

Converting to organic dairy farming: Consequences for production, somatic cell scores and calving interval of first parity Holstein cows

“…With more organic roughage in the diet and a lower intake of energy and protein from concentrates, milk production is expected to decrease. It is also expected that cattle with high genetic potential for production will have particular difficulty coping with organic environments (Hardarson, 2001;Kristensen and Struck Pedersen, 2001;Nauta et al, 2001). Our interest, therefore, is directed especially at Holstein cattle.…”