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Institute of

OF Organic Farming

Project

Cows on organic farms - looked at through interdisciplinary glasses

Lead Institute OL Institute of Organic Farming

Health and performance of dairy cows in organic farming from an interdisciplinary point of view - an (intervention-) study on metabolic disorders and mastitis with regard to forage production, feeding management and husbandry practices

Studies have shown: Cows in organic dairy farms are not healthier and face mastitis as well as metabolic disorders. This joint research project aimed for an interdisciplinary approach to that phenomenon.

Background and Objective

This project focused on the development of prevention-oriented health management strategies for metabolic disorders and udder health in organic dairy farms and to validate this approach through an interdisciplinary on-farm intervention study. Metabolic and udder health in organic dairy cows before and after partition as well as the influence of feed, nutrition and husbandry conditions were at the core of this project.

© Thünen-Institut/Gabriele Kümmritz
© Solveig March
© LfL/Petra Rauch
© Solveig March

Approach

A national field survey of 100 organic dairy farms has been used to assess the risk of metabolic disorders and udder disease. The study considered production systems and plant composition of feed from grassland and ley farming; composition of feed rations, feed quality, housing conditions and milk quality to show how individual farm risk estimates relate to the metabolic and udder health situation.

A second part of the study focused on three organic experimental stations. Basic questions on feed management, udder health and metabolic disorders as well as on extensive farming were considered. The experimental approaches have been used to supplement the field results. Another focus of the study was to create sustainable communication structures to enable the transfer of knowledge among scientists, consultants and farmers.

Results

Results of the projectare published as a projekt report, which can be downloaded: orgprints.org/25133/

Links and Downloads

orgprints.org/25133/

Duration

7.2007 - 12.2011

Article/ Leaflet

Thünen-Contact

Dr. Kerstin Barth

Telephone
+49 4539 8880 312
Telephone
+49 531 2570 1634
kerstin.barth@thuenen.de
OL Institute of Organic Farming

Involved Thünen-Partners

Involved external Thünen-Partners

Funding Body

  • Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)
    (national, öffentlich)

Duration

7.2007 - 12.2011

More Information

Project funding number: 07OE012...22
Funding program: Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau und andere Formen nachhaltiger Landwirtschaft (BÖLN)
Project status: finished

Publications

  1. 0

    Wallenbeck A, Rousing T, Sørensen JT, Bieber A, Spengler Neff A, Fürst-Waltl B, Winckler C, Pfeiffer C, Steininger F, Simantke C, March S, Brinkmann J, Walczak J, Wojcik P, Ribikauskas V, Wilhelmsson S, Skjerve T, Ivemeyer S (2019) Characteristics of organic dairy major farm types in seven European countries. Organic Agric 9(3):275–291, DOI:10.1007/s13165-018-0227-9

  2. 1

    Ivemeyer S, Brinkmann J, March S, Simantke C, Winckler C, Knierim U (2018) Major organic dairy farm types in Germany and their farm, herd, and management characteristics. Organic Agric 8(3):231-247, DOI:10.1007/s13165-017-0189-3

  3. 2

    Ivemeyer S, Brinkmann J, March S, Simantke C, Winckler C, Knierim U (2017) Identifizierung von Bio-Milchviehbetriebstypen sowie deren Betriebs-, Herden- und Managementcharakteristika. In: Wolfrum S, Heuwinkel H, Reents HJ, Hülsbergen KJ (eds) Ökologischen Landbau weiterdenken - Verantwortung übernehmen, Vertrauen stärken : Beiträge zur 14. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Freising-Weihenstephan, 7. bis 10. März 2017. Berlin: Köster, pp 740-744

  4. 3

    Wallenbeck A, Bieber A, Spengler Neff A, Fürst-Waltl B, Winckler C, Ivemeyer S, Simantke C, March S, Brinkmann J, Rousing T, Sørensen JT, Walczak J, Wojcik P, Ribikauskas V (2016) Characteristics of organic dairy farm types in seven European countries. In: Book of abstracts of the 67th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science : Belfast, United Kingdom, 29 August - 2 September 2016. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publ, p 306

  5. 4

    Brinkmann J, March S, Barth K, Drerup C, Isselstein J, Klocke D, Krömker V, Mersch F, Müller J, Rauch P, Schumacher U, Spiekers H, Tichter A, Volling O, Weiler M, Weiß M, Winckler C (2016) Reducing lameness in organic dairy herds following farm individual intervention measures. In: Doherty M (ed) The 29th World Buiatrics Congress, Dublin 2016 - Congress Proceedings. Dublin: Veterinary Ireland, pp 462-463

  6. 5

    Barth K, Brinkmann J, Harms J, Isselstein J, Krömker V, March S, Müller J, Schumacher U, Spiekers H, Winckler C (2012) Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit bei Biomilchkühen. Frick: FiBL, 28 p

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn050112.pdf

  7. 6

    Brinkmann J, March S, Barth K, Bioland D, Isselstein J, Klocke D, Krömker V, Mersch F, Müller J, Rauch P, Spiekers H, Tichter A, Winckler C (2012) Health improvement following interdisciplinary intervention in organic dairy farms. In: Abstracts Book : 27th World Buiatrics Congress 2012 ; Lisbon Portugal 3 - 8 June. Lisboa: Associacao Portuguesa de Buiatrica, p 53

  8. 7

    Krömker V, Zinke C, Paduch J-H, Abograra I, Brinkmann J, Drerup C, March S, Volling O, Weiler M, Weiß M, Mersch F, Barth K, Isselstein J (2012) Udder health in the dry period in organic dairy farms. In: Abstracts Book : 27th World Buiatrics Congress 2012 ; Lisbon Portugal 3 - 8 June. Lisboa: Associacao Portuguesa de Buiatrica, p 82

  9. 8

    Rauch P, March S, Brinkmann J, Spiekers H, Pries M, Edmunds B, Harms J (2012) Verbundprojekt Gesundheit und Leistung in der ökologischen Milchviehhaltung - Ansätze in der Fütterung. SchrR Bayer Landesanst Landwirtsch 4:43-49

  10. 9

    March S, Brinkmann J, Barth K, Drerup C, Isselstein J, Klocke D, Krömker V, Mersch F, Müller J, Rauch P, Schumacher U, Spiekers H, Tichter A, Volling O, Weiler M, Weiß M, Winckler C (2011) Erarbeitung, Akzeptanz und Umsetzung betriebsindividueller Handlungsempfehlungen zur Verbesserung der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären Interventionsstudie. In: Leithold G, Becker K, Brock C (eds) Beiträge zur 11. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Es geht ums Ganze: Forschen im Dialog von Wissenschaft und Praxis : Bd. 2, Tierproduktion und Sozioökonomie. Berlin: Köster, pp 200-203

  11. 10

    Brinkmann J, March S, Barth K, Drerup C, Isselstein J, Klocke D, Krömker V, Mersch E, Müller J, Rauch P, Schumacher U, Spiekers H, Tichter A, Volling O, Weiler M, Weiß M, Winckler C (2011) Preventive animal health concepts in organic dairy farming: results of an interdisciplinary intervention study on mastitis and metabolic disorders in Germany. In: Hogeveen H (ed) Udder health and communication : proceedings of the international conference, 25-27 October 2011, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publ, p 111

  12. 11

    Krömker V, Zinke C, Paduch J-H, Bormann A, Abograra I, March S, Brinkmann J, Volling O, Drerup C, Weiler M, Weiß M, Becker M, Spiekers H, Mersch F, Schumacher U, Barth K, Klocke D (2011) Risiken und Chancen der Stoffwechsel- und Eutergesundheit im Zeitraum der Trockenperiode und der Frühlaktation in ökologisch wirtschaftenden Milchviehbetrieben. In: Leithold G, Becker K, Brock C (eds) Beiträge zur 11. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Es geht ums Ganze: Forschen im Dialog von Wissenschaft und Praxis : Bd. 2, Tierproduktion und Sozioökonomie. Berlin: Köster, pp 158-161

  13. 12

    Krömker V, Zinke C, Paduch J-H, Bormann A, Abograra I, March S, Brinkmann J, Volling O, Drerup C, Weiler M, Weiß M, Becker M, Rauch P, Mersch F, Schumacher U, Barth K, Klocke D (2011) Stoffwechselbelastungen zu Laktationsbegin und Korrelationen mit der Eutergesundheit in ökologisch wirtschaftenden Milchviehbetrieben. In: Leithold G, Becker K, Brock C (eds) Beiträge zur 11. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Es geht ums Ganze: Forschen im Dialog von Wissenschaft und Praxis : Bd. 2, Tierproduktion und Sozioökonomie. Berlin: Köster, pp 170-173

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