Dairy cows in organic and conventional farms: Nutrition, Health and Production

• Research unit: FOAG
• Project number: 01.11

Key words (German)

Integrierte Produktionssysteme, biologische Milchproduktion, biologische Milchprodukte, Gesundheits-Herdenmanagement

Key words (English)

integratet production systems, organic dairy farms, organic dairy products, animal-health management,

Short description (German)

The goal of the overall project is to compare cows held in organic and conventional Swiss dairy farms, with respect to nutritional status, halth status, reproductive performance, milk production, milk composition, frequency of mastitis, antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from infected mammary glands, and presence of verotoxin-producing E. coli in fecal samples.

Short description (English)

The goal of the overall project is to compare cows held in organic and conventional Swiss dairy farms, with respect to nutritional status, halth status, reproductive performance, milk production, milk composition, frequency of mastitis, antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from infected mammary glands, and presence of verotoxin-producing E. coli in fecal samples.

Project aims (English)

It is proposed an additional epidemiological investigation on cows held in organic as compared with cows held in conventional farms in the cantons of BE, FR, NE, SO and LU. The primary goal is to test the hypothesis that cows held in certified organic dairy herds differ from those held in conventional farms not only with respect to nutrients fed and nutritional management, but also with respect to nutritional status, health status, reproductive performance, milk production, milk composition, frequency of mastitis, antibiotica resistance of bacteria isolated from infected mammary glands, and presence of VETC in fecal samples and possibily in milk.
Variables to be measured: Nutrition and nutritional status, health status, production of milk and reproduction.

Transfer and application (English)

cf Arbeitsvorgang / Stand der Arbeiten

Knowlegde improvements / Publications (English)

Busato A., P. Trachsel, M. Schällibaum and J.W. Blum: Udder health and risk factors of subclinical mastitis in organic dairy farms in Switzerland. Prevent. Vet. Med.44 (2000) 205-220
Busato A., Trachsel P., Blum J.W. (2000b): Frequency of Traumatic Cow Injuries in Relation with Housing Systems in Swiss Organic Dairy Herds. J Vet Med A 47 (2000) 221-229
Trachsel P., Busato A., Blum J.W.: Body condition scores of dairy cattle in organic farms. J. Anim. Physiol. a. Anim. Nutr. 84 (2000) 112-124

Process / State of work (English)

Project began in November 2001. Surveys have been finished in summer 2003. Several publications are prepared. Informations: www.itz.vetsuisse.unibe.ch/