Unterschiedliche Fütterung: Treibhausgaslast der Milch von vier Milchviehbetrieben

Four organic dairy farms of a German farm network (www.pilotbetriebe.de) were described in detail with respect to average diets and feedstuff quality, and were compared to the mean results of the 22 organic and 22 conventional farms of the network. At milk yields between 4,469 and 6,769 kg energy corrected milk (ECM) a-1, rations of three farms almost completely depended on grass and grass clover from both grassland and arable land (96-100 %; mean organic approx. 75 %). The fourth farm was similar to the average conventional milk yield and diet (incl. maize silage and a high share of concentrates) hence it largely depended on arable land. Enteric methane (CH4) emissions per kg ECM were higher the more fibre rich feedstuffs were fed and, as expected, the lower the milk yield. The composition of excreta (determining the potential to emit greenhouse gases, GHG) is also a result of the interaction of feed intake, feed quality and feed components on the different farms. The various factors that impact on emissions from dairy cows, from their stable and pasture environment and from storage of their manure can considerably be influenced via feeding and the related milk yield. Trade offs in other farm sections and outside the system boundaries (such as animal health and welfare, soil organic carbon, etc.) have to be considered when optimising dairy systems to reduce GHG

Options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation and manure handling in dairy farming – An analysis based on farm network data

In the project ‘Climate effects and Sustainability of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems’ dairy farms in Germany were analysed for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on the whole process chain (Hülsbergen and Rahmann, 2013). This article focuses on the main GHG from dairy production. The most important source is methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation of the cows. Second important are the GHG from livestock manure: CH4, nitrous oxide (N2O) and indirect N2O-emissions (N2Oindirect) by ammonia (NH3) deposition on soils. They are determined by manure composition, manure management in stables and storage and by excreta of grazing animals dropped on pasture. The results from organic and conventional dairy farms are presented. A view on limits of modelling approaches based on practical farm data is given. Some practical advices for farm management to produce climate friendlier milk are concluded

DIFFERENCES IN FEEDING PRACTICES ON ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL DAIRY FARMS – DATA FROM A FARM NETWORK

Organic and conventional feeding practices of dairy cattle differ due to specific regulations that are in place for organic farming. E.g., dairy cows must have access to pasture, and soybean extract, a very common concentrate in conventional dairy feeding, may not be fed. The joint project “Climate Effects and Sustainability of Agricultural Systems – Analyses in a Network of Pilot Farms” determined feeding practices and feed qualities on a total of 44 dairy farms (22 organic and conventional, each) in four German regions for 2008, 2009 and 2010. The average diets of the dairy cows differed considerably between organic and conventional dairy farms. Organic farms with a high percentage of hay in the diet were found in East and South Germany. The low percentage of concentrates in dairy rations is typical for the organic farms in the alpine region. In all regions the importance of grazing was significantly higher on the organic compared to conventional farms. Also, on conventional farms in the coastal region of North Germany grazing was of higher importance than in the other regions. Organic dairy cows received more fiber rich hay that produces relatively more CH4 and conventional dairy cows were fed more readily degradable concentrates that produce relatively less CH4. Hence, from the combination of diet and feed quality it can be expected that organic dairy cows produce slightly more CH4 from enteric fermentation per kg feed consumed (DM) than conventional dairy cows. In summary, feedstuffs and their qualities were farm specific and should be considered in the calculation of methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Additionally, the differences in feeding regime have consequences for the primary energy use for feed production. These factors and must be considered in detail to conclude over greenhouse gas emissions from milk production on farm level

Audience perceptions of historical authenticity in visual media

Representations of the past in popular media are often one of the main – and sometimes only – ways that people engage with history. However, the ways in which the audiences and players of these media actually perceive the represented historical content is often theorized but has seldom been empirically studied. This chapter begins to address this imbalance using the findings of a recent survey (n = 621). The chapter outlines audiences’ motivations and engagement with historical film and TV, specifically considering audience perceptions of (in)authenticity. The findings of the survey are described using specific examples of medieval fiction and are grounded within the empirical data collected. The chapter will conclude by outlining how a greater understanding of the popular perceptions of the medieval can help historians to better evaluate the reception of the Middle Ages in the modern world. Historical 74media, in this context the fictive representations of history in television (TV), film and video games, have most commonly been researched in terms of their uses and formal applications in learning contexts such as schools.[1] There is limited empirical research that investigates informal engagements with historical film and television,[2] with the momentous research by Rosenzweig and Thelen carried out in 1995, before the emergence of the widespread use of digital historical games, which were therefore not included in their investigation. Additionally, while their research remains a seminal study for understanding informal historical engagements both with history, and with fictive representations of history, in the twenty-three years since their data was collected, historical media production and consumption practices have changed drastically. Consequently, more up-to-date research is needed to capture these developments. While Rosenzweig and Thelen investigated the perceived trustworthiness or authenticity of historical film and TV, they did so in relation to other historical practices and activities such as visiting heritage sites or talking with family members, with their study participants classifying these different ways of experiencing the past based on perceptions of their trustworthiness. However, this means that the elements specifically within historical media that contributed to their participants’ perceptions of (in)authenticity were not addressed in depth, as their research gave a broad overview of a variety of informal engagements with the past. The study reported in this chapter aims to address these gaps in the literature by investigating informal engagements with historical media, through comparatively assessing audience and player perceptions of authenticity across three fictive historical media forms (TV, film, games) and also within each media form. The survey was not intended to assess audience perceptions of non-fiction media, such as TV or film documentaries, or those that are purportedly factual like textbooks. By focusing on fictionalized media, this allowed the media forms to be more explicitly comparable given the fictional nature of almost all historical games. This study investigated a variety of elements of engagement with historical media, such as researching the historical context, discussing it with others in forums or engaging 75in other kinds of online activities in reference to all periods of history. However, due to the focus of this volume, only the elements of the research that relate specifically to perceptions of authenticity of the medieval are provided. Despite the survey being inclusive of all historical periods to which the respondents naturally referred, there were nonetheless common trends – regardless of the historical period discussed – when it comes to engaging with fictionalized histories in these informal ways. These trends are thus exemplified in this chapter with data pertaining to receptions of the medieval in fictional TV series, film and games. As such, the following analysis will add more depth to previous research carried out on this topic and will enhance our understanding of how audiences perceive authenticity as created within contemporary historical visual culture. This chapter presents the results of the study and suggests several apparent trends relating to audience perceptions of authenticity within media addressing the medieval period. Namely: that representations of the Middle Ages in games are typically seen as less authentic than representations in other media formats; that the perceived veracity of material culture has a substantial impact on the perceived authenticity of a piece of media; that the perceived authenticity of media which adapts written work is based substantially on its adherence to the original text; and that media which emphasizes negative aspects of the Middle Ages are more likely to be viewed as authentic

Effects of temporarily reduced tillage in organic crop rotations on yield, earthworm biomass and development of weed pressure. First results of a case study from Schleswig-Holstein/Germany

Farming systems applying reduced tillage measures are expected to be beneficial for sustaining important soil functions (ecosystem services) and (soil)biodiversity. Furthermore a reduction in tillage intensity is connected to reduced need for energy and labour input. On the other hand waiving the plough is, especially in organic farming systems, suspected to lead to increased weed pressure and therefore decreases in yields. In this paper first results of a study on temporarily reduced tillage in organic crop-rotations are presented. Here the plough was set aside before drilling triticale at the end of four crop rotations, and expectable yields, earthworm biomass and weed pressure were investigated. First one-year-results, of the experiment on temporarily reduced tillage to triticale at the end of organic crop-rotations did not show consistent yield effects. Increase in weed dominance at harvest on sites without ploughing and the expected positive effect on earthworm biomass in spring could not be statistically secured

Klimagase und deren Minderung bei der Milchproduktion

Sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of milk production were analysed on organic and conventional dairy farms from cradle to farm gate and resulted in a mean of ca. 1 kg CO2 eq kg ECM-1 independent of the farm system. When calculated according to dry matter intake of the cows, mean percentages of GHG emissions from enteric fermentation on organic or conventional farms were 31 or 42 % from the complete product related emissions from milk production from cradle to farm gate, respectively. When feed quality parameters were considered in calculation, enteric methane production increased considerably with higher fibre contents in feedstuffs. This was especially important at lower milk yields. On the 44 farms that were analysed, minimal potential GHG emissions from enteric fermentation on the herd level were 0.39 (organic farm) and 0.32 kg CO2 eq kg ECM-1 (conventional farm). This is proposed as unavoidable range for milk from intensive conventional and organic dairy production. GHG emissions from replacement animals and from feedstuff production are also part of the dairy systems. These emissions can only partly be reduced by feedstuff man-agement, manure management and technical measures, e.g. slurry cover, biogas production. Efficiency gains in all steps of the process chain by appropriate manage-ment appear to be most important for (reliably) reducing GHG emissions, e.g., by optimal feed quality and its related good milk yields and healthy and long living cows

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