Introduction

Scientific information

Organic dairy farming

Grazing

Contact and publications

Implementation on organic dairy farms

The organic dairy farming is a substantial agricultural production in Europe. Although the percentages of organic dairy farms related to the conventional dairy farms differ a great deal from country to country, the sector is of crucial importance for the organic production as a whole.

Facts and figures on organic dairy production can be found on the following link. http://www.organic-europe.net/

In Denmark approximately 10% of the dairy production is organic. In 2004, 630 organic dairy farms producing about 400 million kg of milk pr. year have so far been registered.

To guarantee this substantial organic milk production, the organic dairy sector is obliged to innovate, in order to achieve a rational sustainable production.

Innovation of new technologies can only succeed if this does not conflict with the organic principles and standards.

At The Department of Biosystems Engineering, which belongs to University of Aarhus, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, a research program has been started to investigate the consequences for the organic dairy sector, when the organic farms  implement the automatic milking in their practise. Also this project  comprises the design of a mobile automatic milking system (Plug & Milk). 

Special focus is put on the following issues: 

1.      Socio economical aspects
·        organic farmers attitudes to automatic milking
·        consumers’ attitudes to automatic milking
·        organic movements’ acceptance
·        economical consequences related to organic farm structure

2.      Ecological aspects
·        animal health, especially as regards udder health and daily contact.
·        animal welfare, especially concerning grazing
·        mineral disposition , due to  the geographical limits for  grazing

3.      Practical aspects
·        farm management after implementation of automatic milking
·        grazing system
·        feeding regime
·        growth/ development strategies.

 Statusrapport (in Danish language)

The grazing issue 

Grazing combined with automatic milking in the barn can be a challenge, as also organic dairy farmers wish their cows to visit the AMS at least twice a day, without too much labour, and securing optimal feeding.

In the linked report these aspects are investigated.