Eiweiß- und Energieversorgung in 34 konventionellen und ökologischen Milchviehherden Ergebnisse aus einem Netzwerk von Pilotbetrieben

For reasons of animal health, milk yield and for environmental issues an optimal supply of protein and energy for dairy cows is essential. The aim of this study is to examine potential protein and energy malnutrition and surplus in dairy herds. We present a comparison of the protein and energy supply between 18 conventional and 16 organic dairy herds. Initial results indicate an undersupply on energy in the first one hundred days of lactation in both the organic and conventional feeding regimes. It is easier to provide an adequate protein supply in conventional conditions in the first one hundred days than in organic ones. A balanced supply is guaranteed for a mere 21,3 % of the organic cows. In the second one hundred days this increases to 26,5 %, compared to 51,7 % in conventional ones. In high yielding organic dairy herds there is a shortage in energy and protein in the second one hundred days as well. In low yielding organic herds a surplus on protein over the whole lactation with possible negative effects on animal health and ammonia emissions is observed. Once more these first results demonstrate the difficulty of providing a balanced nutrition in organic dairy herds

Welchen Einfluss hat der Weidegang auf das Tierwohl von Milchkühen? Erste Ergebnisse des Welfare Quality® Protokolls bei ganzjähriger Stallhaltung und Sommerweidegang

Grazing provides livestock better opportunities to act out their species specific behaviour compared to the restrictive stable conditions. Studies on the effect of grazing on animal welfare in dairy farming in Germany are rare and have not been conducted under the specific conditions of organic dairy farming. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of grazing on animal welfare of dairy cows in organic and conventional farming based on the Welfare Quality® protocol for dairy cattle. In this paper, we present the initial evaluation of a comparison between zero grazing and summer grazing. The first results indicate an improvement in most welfare principles during the summer months for dairy cows with summer grazing, except for between winter and summer in zero grazing farms. In conclusion, grazing offers a great potential for improved animal welfare, while the benefitial effects of grazing are not guaranteed in event of suboptimal management

Optimierungsansätze zur Verbesserung von Nachhaltigkeit, Ressourceneffizienz und Tierwohl in ökologischen und konventionellen Betrieben im Netzwerk Pilotbetriebe

In a network of organic and conventional pilot farms with dairy and/or arable production in Germany (www.pilotbetriebe.de) aspects of sustainability, resource efficiency, animal health and welfare and economic aspects are analysed. This is based on on-farm assessments and on whole farm modelling. In the first interdisciplinary workshops on the project farms results were presented and scenarios were developed in a participatory approach by scientists, consultants and farmers to improve N, P and land use efficiency as well as dairy health and welfare. Typical areas of action to optimize sustainability in these aspects were identified on the farms, e.g., complete accounting of manure N (N balance), enrichment of crop rotations with clover grass and cover crops (humus balance), improving forage quality (productivity, nutritional imbalances), improvement of housing conditions and grazing access (animal health and welfare). Systematic integration and detection of interconnectedness of environmental performance of production, animal welfare, resource efficiency and productivity result in a new quality in development of farm concepts