Abstract
Medication is an important focus area in organic animal husbandry. The combination of goals relating to improved animal welfare and reduced use of chemicals in general creates a common wish to reduce medication. Based on data from current Danish research projects in organic dairy farming, one specific organic medication pattern or policy cannot be described. The disease treatment pattern is influenced by many factors, e.g. the interaction with colleagues, veterinarians and agricultural advisors. No significant difference could be found with regard to incidence of mastitis treatments or somatic cell counts in 27 organic and 57 conventional herds. A marked tendency to shorter treatment periods in relation to mastitis treatments was described for organic farms in comparison with conventional farms (1.9 days versus 3.2 days (5 organic and 7 conventional herds)). In a study of development of health advisory service in organic herds, the dialogue between farmer, veterinarian and agricultural cattle advisor changed the treatment pattern markedly during a period of 6 months. Among important future challenges for veterinarians in organic farming is pointed at the constructive, open, and critical interaction with the single organic farmer as well as the organic animal husbandry system in general.
Highlights
Animal welfare is a key goal of organic farming
Disease treatments have been checked with veterinarians’ recordings by a project veterinarian. – The ‘Kongeå-project’ is a project, which is localised in a specific area including three counties in Denmark. This project is led by the Danish Dairy Board and is a kind of an action research project, where a large number of dairy herds form basis for several research projects and seven Ph.D.studies. This project has contributed to this manuscript through data from conventional herds and as a framework for some of the organic herds participating in this study. – Project ‘Mastitis Resistance in Danish Dairy Herds’ is one of the projects being a part of the Research Centre for the Management of Animal Production & Health (CEPROS)
On-farm studies in Danish organic and conventional herds In a recent Danish study in 1999 involving 27 organic and 57 conventional herds, the percentage of cows treated for mastitis per month were 1.8-5.1 (25% and 75% percentiles) in organic herds and 3.3-6.7 in conventional herds
Summary
Animal welfare is a key goal of organic farming. A reduced need for disease treatment reflects good animal health and welfare. The rules for organic farming contain restrictions with regard to medication – in order to encourage disease prevention, or even better: health care. The rules concerning medication in organic farming encourage a more restrictive use of medicine. In Denmark, the withdrawal time after medical treatment on dairy farms is three times prolonged compared to conventional farming, and dispensing of medicine to the farmer for treatment is only allowed for pigs and calves under six month and only if a veterinarian has initiated the treatment.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
