| A comparison of management practices, farmer-perceived disease incidence and winter housing on organic and non-organic dairy farms in the UK. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 18922194 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
There have been increases in the number of organic dairy farms in the UK in recent years. However, there is little information on the impact of organic regulations on cow welfare. As part of a larger study, we aimed to investigate differences between organic and non-organic farms in management practices and winter housing quality. Forty organic and 40 non-organic farms throughout the UK were visited. Organic and non-organic farms were paired for housing type, and as far as possible for herd size, genetic merit and location. A detailed questionnaire covering key aspects of dairy management was carried out with each farmer. On a subset of twenty pairs, an assessment of the quality of the winter housing for both lactating and dry cows was undertaken, covering the parlour, bedding, loafing and feeding areas. Management practices and building conditions varied greatly within farm types and there was considerable overlap between organic and non-organic farms. Milk yield, level and composition of concentrate feed, management of heifers and calving, and use of 'alternative treatments' to prevent and treat mastitis differed between organic and non-organic farms. In all other respects there were no differences between farm types. Building dimensions per cow did not differ, even though organic recommendations advise greater space per cow than recommended for non-organic farms. The similarity between organic and non-organic farms in most respects indicates that cow housing and health, based on both the described management regimes and the farmers' perceptions of disease incidence, on organic dairy farms is neither compromised by the regulations, nor considerably better than on non-organic farms. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Fritha M Langford; Kenneth Md Rutherford; Mhairi C Jack; Lorna Sherwood; Alistair B Lawrence; Marie J Haskell |
Related Documents
:
|
19322044 - Knowledge management as a mediator for the efficacy of transformational leadership and ... 11407124 - Consumer focus can spur group practice turnaround. 10107674 - Building departmental influence in health care organizations. 11258274 - Meeting the challenge of a group practice turnaround. 5922504 - Early management of the critically injured. 4966484 - Macroglobulinemia. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2008-10-16 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The Journal of dairy research Volume: 76 ISSN: 0022-0299 ISO Abbreviation: J. Dairy Res. Publication Date: 2009 Feb |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2009-01-20 Completed Date: 2009-03-11 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 2985125R Medline TA: J Dairy Res Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 6-14 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock Systems, SAC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK. fritha.langford@sac.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animal Welfare Animals Cattle Cattle Diseases / epidemiology* Dairying / methods* Female Great Britain Health Food* Housing, Animal / standards* Incidence Perception Population Density Questionnaires Seasons* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Association between isolation of Staphylococcus aureus one week after calving and milk yield, somati...
Next Document: The effect of short-term hyperammonaemia on milk synthesis in dairy cows.