Advances in organic dairy cattle farming

Description

The dairy sector continues to face increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact and contribution to climate change. It must also address consumer concerns surrounding issues such as animal welfare, antibiotic usage/resistance and the ethics of intensive production systems.

Advances in organic dairy cattle farming considers how organic dairy farming has the potential to address these challenges whilst also meeting the key organic principles of health, ecology, fairness and care. The book reviews advances in areas such as breeding, optimising pasture-based nutrition and organic milk quality, improving the health and welfare of calves and adult cows, as well as promoting biodiversity and the move to a more circular, sustainable bioeconomy.

Table of contents

• Introduction: understanding the diversity of organic dairy farming in Europe: Mette Vaarst, Aarhus University, Denmark;

Part 1 Improving breeding and nutrition

• Optimising breeding and genetic diversity in organic and low-input dairy farming: Morten Kargo, Aarhus University, Denmark;
• Optimising soils, pasture and grasslands for organic dairy farming: Hannah Jones, Farm Carbon Toolkit, UK;
• Assessing and optimising organic milk quality: Gillian Butler, Newcastle University, UK;

Part 2 Improving health, welfare and life opportunities

• One-welfare perspectives on organic dairy farming: Lindsay Whistance, Organic Research Centre, UK;
• The lives of calves from organic dairy farms: Kerstin Barth, Thünen Institute, Germany;
• Improving herd health management and disease prevention in organic dairy cattle: Lisa Morgans, Innovation for Agriculture, UK;
• The use of plant bio-active compounds and other alternative therapeutic strategies in organic dairy farming: Maria Groot, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;
• Improving the management of parasites in organic dairy farming: Stig Milan Thamsborg, University of Copenhagen, Denmark;
• An ethical framework for the use of technologies on organic dairy farming: David Rose, Royal Agricultural University, UK;

Part 3 Improving sustainability

• Optimising integration of dairy cows into a resilient whole farm context: Stephen Roderick, Duchy College, UK;
• How can organic dairy farming address and improve biodiversity and healthy ecosystems?: Will Simonson, Organic Research Centre, UK;
• Understanding consumer attitudes and market structures around organic/low-input dairy farming: Otto Schmid, FiBL, Switzerland;
• The role of organic dairy farming in the development of sustainable food, ecological and social systems: Mette Vaarst, Aarhus University, Denmark;