Driving factors behind subjective resilience on organic dairy sheep farms

Treatments Used on Organic Dairy Farms

INTRODUCTION Organic regulations in the US strictly regulate medications may be used on organic farms (USDA, 2011). While both Canadian and EU organic standards discourage the use of antibiotics or prohibited synthetic compounds, both standards contain provisions that allow limited usage of antibiotics (without loss of organic status of the animal) under strictly defined conditions and with ext...

Factors Affecting Manure Output on Dairy Farms

The amount of manure produced on dairy farms can affect the financial bottom line. Labor, equipment, and facilities are needed to move and store manure, all of which have a cost. Increased output of manure can represent losses in potentially digestible nutrients (increased feed costs). Lastly, the environmental impact of dairy farming is strongly related with the quantity and composition of man...

Investigations on dairy welfare and performance on German organic farms

An investigation was carried out on 74 organic dairy farms in Germany. Results were an average milk production of 5.960 kg, 223.000 somatic cell counts (SCC), 387 days calving interval, 23.5 % culling rate, 46 Euro annual veterinary costs per cow. Farmers were asked for disease incidences. Cows were scored for injuries and body condition. The results were combined with possible influencing fact...

Learning in Organic Farming – an Application on Finnish Dairy Farms

Organic farming technology may be relatively unknown to farmers at the time when they switch from conventional into organic farming. Therefore, experience gained over time and learning by doing may be important determinants in the efficiency of organic farming. It may also take time to reach the optimal nutrient stock of soil and optimal nutrient supply for arable crops under organic farming. T...

Management of mastitis on organic & conventional dairy farms