Breeding Goals for Organic Dairy Farming in Denmark Based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture

Summary

Organic dairy farming (ODF) is different from conventional dairy farming in management practices, but so far the same breeding goal (BG) is used, based on the same economic models (EM). However, ODF is based on the principles of organic agriculture defined by the IFOAM, which are not easily interpreted in economic terms and it may be questionable to use a BG for ODF based on EM. In this study we set up three BGs for ODF in Denmark, one based on the principles of organic agriculture, one focusing on roughage consumption and feed efficiency, and one focusing on disease resistance. A questionnaire and desired gains index were used to set up the BGs. Correlations between these BGs and BGs based on EM were low. Which BG would be best suitable to use for ODF in Denmark depends on preferences of stakeholders.