5953: Factors causing a higher level of liver abscesses in organic compared with conventional dairy herds [Faktorer af betydning for et højere niveau af leverbylder hos økologiske sammenlignet med konventionelle malkebesætninger]
Jorgensen, K. F.; Kjeldsen, A. M.; Strudsholm, F. and Vestergaard, M., Eds. (2005) Factors causing a higher level of liver abscesses in organic compared with conventional dairy herds [Faktorer af betydning for et højere niveau af leverbylder hos økologiske sammenlignet med konventionelle malkebesætninger]. Proceedings of Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, Uppsala, Sweden, 5.-8. June 2005. Book of abstracts of the 55th Anuual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production. EAAP Book of Abstracts no. 11. Wageningen Academic Publisher, The Netherlands.
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Summary
A data analysis based on the Danish Cattle Data Base shows that organic Holstein-Friesian cows have significantly higher frequencies of liver abscesses (LA) than conventional Holstein-Friesian cows (8% versus 5%). Based on a questionnaire among 91 organic dairy herds, a statistical analysis was made in order to identify which feeding and management factors that were related to the level of LA in the herds. Compared with conventional herds, the feed ration in organic herds had a lower energy and fatty acid level and a higher starch level. During summer season the organic herds had a lower level of digestible cell walls in the ration. Organic herds with a higher grazing level had a higher level of LA (P=0.012). Increasing levels of grain also tended to increase the level of LA. A herd-based analysis (644 herds) showed that lower minimum fat percentage and a higher variation in both fat and protein percentage corresponded with higher levels of LA. Organic herds generally had a 0.1 unit lower fat percentage. The results indicate that organic dairy cows, compared with conventional dairy cows, are more exposed to rumen acidosis and liver abscesses due to higher starch levels and unbalanced feeding strategies in particular during grazing.
| Document Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Nutrition, health, liver abscesses. |
| Subject Areas: | Animal husbandry > Health and welfare Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth |
| Research affiliation: | Denmark > Other organizations Denmark > SOAR - Research School for Organic Agriculture and Food Systems |
| Funding Part: | 75-100% |
| Total budget (Euro): | 0 |
| Orgprints ID Number: | 5953 |
| Contact: | Jørgensen, Ms. Kirstine Flintholm |
| Deposited On: | 08 September 2006 |
| EPrint Type: | Proceedings |
| Published?: | Published |
| Peer Review Status: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
| Commentary on Outside Item: | Fonden for Økologisk Jordbrug |
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