Robotic organic small-scale dairy production
Presentation at 9th Organic Producers’ Conference: Practical research and innovation – diversity in practice
Growing forage in the 'Orange Triangle'!
Presentation at 8th Organic producers’ Conference: Intensive sustainability or sustainable intensification – which way forward for organic farming?
Holistic approaches to a range of on-farm problems
Presentation at 7th Organic Producers’ Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality
The nature of dairy farming
Presentation at 7th Organic Producers’ Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality
The real significance of feed costs to costs of production
Presentation at 7th Organic Producers’ Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality
Strategies to reduce concentrate use in milk production
Presentation at 7th Organic Producers’ Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality
Dairy farming systems and the environment
Presentation at 7th Organic Producers’ Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality
Technical leaflet 1: Organic dairy cow nutrition
Summarises the key recommendations arising from research, in particular focusing on the absolute priority of improving production from forage and the importance of rumen and cow health as well as addressing issues of forage quality, the effect of season on forage protein, the role of mixed forages and self sufficient dairy systems.
Dairy cow breeding for organic farming
Organic farming requires that in the choice of breeds or strains, account must be taken of the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality, and their resistance to disease. In addition, breeds or strains of animals shall be selected to avoid specific diseases or health problems associated with some breeds or strains used in intensive production. This review considers the research into organic dairy cow breeds and breeding, it discusses the need for a specific organic approach to breeding and cross breeding and makes some clear recommendations for selection priorities.
Dairy cow nutrition
This review pulls together the results of over 40 research projects and brings us up to date with the latest in thinking on dairy cow nutrition, incorporates the findings of a wide range of organic trials and draws some clear recommendations on appropriate strategies for forage type and management, supplementary feeding, ration formulation and farming systems. It raises important issues around sustainability versus optimum production and highlights future research priorities.