Innovative strategies related to forage production, utilization and feeding for dairy cow productivity

Summary

The SOLID project (Sustainable Organic Low-Input Dairying) carried out research to improve the sustainability of low-input/organic dairy systems in different ways. This deliverable is one of the three that are resulting from the WP1 of the SOLID project and presents and discusses a series of participatory on-farm studies that were conducted to test innovative approaches related to forage production, utilization and feeding in organic and low-input dairying systems. Specifically, the participatory studies focus on a) improvement of soil organic matter through grazing management and establishment of diverse swards b) on-farm strategies for the improvement of forage yield and protein content of the pasture c) utilisation of industrial by-products for dairy cow nutrition and d) the effects of dietary mineral supplementation on mineral concentrations in milk, with particular focus on iodine supplementation.