FiBL - QualityLowInputFood WP 4.5: Entwicklung betriebs- und regionalspezifischer Strategien zur Eutergesundheit im Biolandbau (EU-Project Quality Low Input Food)

Abstract

Organic regulations claim that animal health should be assured by a cascade of measures, namely breeding (long-term), management & prevention (medium-term), and complementary medicine (short-term), before conventional medicine can be applied, exceptionally. However, effective alternative methods for mastitis control in dairy cows are not used generally, and herd health management to improve udder health is not implemented in most of organic dairy farms. The lack of a wide spread network of skilled veterinarians is an additional factor, which strengthens the situation dramatically. Only if a suitable animal health assurance system in organic farms is implemented in general, the udder health of organic cows and in consequence the quality of organic milk leads to a well accepted status in contrary to the situation.

Project aims:

To analyse the main factors influencing udder health in organic dairy farms
To evaluate the efficacy of complementary mastitis treatments
To establish an intervention framework for farmers, vets and advisors in organic dairy farms