Potential effects of automatic milking systems on grazing in organic dairy farming

Abstract

The use of automatic milking systems (AMSs) increases not only on conventional but also on organic dairy farms. One of the most important aims of organic livestock production is to safeguard good animal welfare. The use of AMS is discussed controversially in this regard, especially in terms of compatibility with grazing. The aim of the presented online survey of organic dairy farmers with AMS, mainly in Germany, was to obtain insights into the compatibility between AMS and pasture use in organic dairy farming practice. Furthermore, it was surveyed to which degree AMS and concentrate use are linked. Most of the responding 42 farmers had implemented an AMS with free cow traffic (74 %). About half of the farms (54 %) used pasture after the introduction of the AMS, but 29 % of the farms that had used grazing before have ceased pasturing after the introduction of the AMS. A decline of average pasture area from 0.22 to 0.18 ha per cow occurred, and pasture systems shifted from rotational grazing (46 % before AMS introduction, 13 % with AMS) to continuous grazing (29 % before AMS introduction, 70 % with AMS). In all farms fed concentrates in the AMS (on average, about 3 kg), 59 % stated that the amount had increased since the introduction of the AMS and only 2 % stated that it had decreased. Altogether, this points at a trend that the introduction of the AMS is being associated with increased concentrate feeding and a decrease or even cessation of grazing, depending on the individual farm situation. Such an effect would not be desirable in terms of animal welfare.