TY  - UNPB
ID  - orgprints4371
UR  - http://orgprints.org/4371/
A1  - Hoerning, Bernhard
A1  - Simantke, Christel
A1  - Aubel, Erhard
TI  - Investigations on dairy welfare and performance on German organic farms
Y1  - 2005///
N2  - 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 factors (herd size, breed, region, farming association, housing system, housing factors, amounts of concentrates). The most frequent health problems were udder, fertility, and claw disorders. These subjective estimations of disease incidences by the farmers could be validated with herd recording data (SCC, calving interval, culling reasons). Overall rate of injuries was low. Body condition scoring revealed only few problems. Holstein-Friesians showed the highest milk production, but also more health problems and a higher culling rate. The straw yard systems seem to have advantages with regard to lameness, fertility, and injuries, but a higher risk for mastitis. 
AV  - public
KW  - Organic dairy farming
KW  -  milk production
KW  -  welfare parameters
KW  -  influencing factors
ER  -