Farming strategies in organic dairy farming: Effects on breeding goal and choice of breed. An explorative study

Nauta, Walle J. H.; Baars, Ton; Saatkamp, H.W.; Weenink, Don; Roep, D.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2008.06.011

Cited by 25 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…It is well known that there is increasing interest in local products (Albardíaz‐Segador, ), a preference that is partly justified by tradition and evocation of the past. Many consumers of organic food associate organic products with preservation of tradition (Cicia, Del Giudice, Ramunno, & Tagliaferro, ) and part of this tradition involves using local or traditional breeds (Nauta, Baars, Saatkamp, Weenink, & Roep, ). Following the same reasoning, the consumers in our study were very interested in “knowing which breed was used for organic dairy production” and showed “WTP for milk products produced by breeds other than Holstein‐Friesian”.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food in Galicia (Northern Spain)

Rodríguez‐Bermúdez

Miranda

Galdo

et al. 2020

Int J Consumer Studies

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Although the organic sector is still relatively small, the demand for organic food is increasing throughout the world. The characterization of consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food is important to enable the development of marketing policies aimed at attracting conventional consumers to the sector. Consumers' behaviour studies must be conducted specifically for different regions and countries as perceptions and attitudes vary across the world. In the present study, a questionnaire was designed for administration to consumers in Galicia (Northern Spain). The questionnaire was administered to 830 consumers in 200 establishments to obtain data about the consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food. The survey results showed that one‐third of responders consume organic food and that the typical profile of a consumer of organic food is a middle‐aged, medium‐high class, university‐educated female living in a large village, who shops in supermarkets and preferably consume vegetables, fruits and eggs. Most people who declared that they consume organic products confuse these with home and locally produced food, indicating the potential for growth of the organic sector by providing such consumers with appropriate information. Most consumers (including conventional consumers) have a good opinion of organic food and consider that it is better for health, is of better quality than conventional food and avoid pesticide residues. However, price continues to be a barrier to the consumption of organic produce. Most respondents stated that they would consume more organic food if the price was only between 10% and 30% higher than the conventional equivalent. Finally, organic consumers in Galicia showed positive attitudes towards using local breeds in organic agriculture, both for producing food and for ecotourism and educational activities. Such activities could contribute to conserving breed biodiversity and adding value to organic farming.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food in Galicia (Northern Spain)

Rodríguez‐Bermúdez

Miranda

Galdo

et al. 2020

Int J Consumer Studies

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“…Because of health problems with high yielding dairy breeds in the first years following conversion, farmers started crossing with more robust breeds (Freyer et al, 2008). However, this happened without a clear insight on the effects of cross-breeding in an organic system or on a particular farm type (Nauta et al, 2009). Farmers were searching for the type of cows that fitted best to their farm conditions and many have chosen to breed with different breeds for better robustness and vigour, also from heterosis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

Haas

Smolders

Hoorneman

et al. 2013

Animal

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Data from 113 Dutch organic farms were analysed to determine the effect of cross-breeding on production and functional traits. In total, data on 33 788 lactations between January 2003 and February 2009 from 15 015 cows were available. Holstein-Friesian pure-bred cows produced most kg of milk in 305 days, but with the lowest percentages of fat and protein of all pure-bred cows in the data set. Cross-breeding Holstein dairy cows with other breeds (Brown Swiss, Dutch Friesian, Groningen White Headed, Jersey, Meuse Rhine Yssel, Montbé liarde or Fleckvieh) decreased milk production, but improved fertility and udder health in most crossbred animals. In most breeds, heterosis had a significant effect (P , 0.05) on milk (kg in 305 days), fat and protein-corrected milk production (kg in 305 days) and calving interval (CI) in the favourable direction (i.e. more milk, shorter CI), but unfavourably for somatic cell count (higher cell count). Recombination was unfavourable for the milk production traits, but favourable for the functional traits (fertility and udder health). Farm characteristics, like soil type or housing system, affected the regression coefficients on breed components significantly. The effect of the Holstein breed on milk yield was twice as large in cubicle housing as in other housing systems. Jerseys had a negative effect on fertility only on farms on sandy soils. Hence, breed effects differ across farming systems in the organic farming and farmers can use such information to dovetail their farming system with the type of cow they use.

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“…In this study, we chose the same breed for both systems to maximise common factors. One can envisage to use a specific breed in each system, as the aim and strategies were specific to each one (Nauta et al, 2008). In particular, it could be relevant to consider a breed with a better out-of-season reproduction potential in 3L/2Y to ensure better and more regular fertility in June and November lambings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is intensification of reproduction rhythm sustainable in an organic sheep production system? A 4-year interdisciplinary study

Benoît¹,

Tournadre

Dulphy

et al. 2009

Animal

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A 4-year interdisciplinary study was performed to compare two organically managed sheep production systems, using 118 ewes and 24 ha each. The systems differed in the ewes' reproduction rhythm: one lambing per ewe per year (1L/1Y), with the aim of balancing feed self-sufficiency and lamb marketing periods v. three lambings over 2 years (3L/2Y), with the aim of maximising ewes' productivity. The sustainability was evaluated through ewes' reproductive performance, lamb growth rate, carcass characteristics and quality, animal health, forage and feed self-sufficiency, soil mineral balance and gross margin. General animal health was assessed by recording ewe and lamb mortality and putative cause of death. Nematode digestive-tract strongyles parasitism was studied using faecal egg counts and necropsies. Carcass quality was assessed by recording carcass weight, conformation and fatness, and colour and firmness of subcutaneous fat. Thirty-three percent of 3L/2Y ewes lambed twice a year against 4% of 1L/1Y. Mean ewe productivity was 161.3% and 151.0% in 3L/2Y and 1L/1Y, respectively, and it was more variable between years in 3L/2Y. Average concentrate feed consumption and the corresponding cost per ewe were higher in 3L/2Y than in 1L/1Y (156 v. 121 kg, and h49.5 v. h39.3, respectively). Finally, average gross margin was lower in 3L/2Y than in 1L/1Y (h59 v. h65 per ewe, respectively). Even in year 2002, when ewe productivity was highest in 3L/2Y (193%), gross margin was not different between systems (h90 v. h86 per ewe in 3L/2Y and 1L/1Y, respectively), because of higher concentrate costs in 3L/2Y. The 3L/2Y animals presented a lower health status, with a higher lamb mortality ( P , 0.05) and a higher digestive-tract strongyles and coccidia parasitism level ( P , 0.05). Lamb carcass conformation, fatness and fat colour were not different between systems, but carcass weight and subcutaneous dorsal fat firmness were lower in 3L/2Y lambs than in 1L/1Y lambs ( P , 0.05 and ,0.001, respectively). Intensification in an organically managed sheep system, through an increased reproduction rhythm, thus did not lead to better economic results and proved riskier, more variable and more difficult to manage, and so less sustainable. The less intensive system (1L/1Y) was both highly efficient from the animal standpoint and highly feed self-sufficient. The technical and economic results of this system were better than those of organic private farms in the same area and matched those of non-organic farms.

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Farming strategies in organic dairy farming: Effects on breeding goal and choice of breed. An explorative study

Cited by 25 publications

References 12 publications

Consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food in Galicia (Northern Spain)

Consumers' perception of and attitudes towards organic food in Galicia (Northern Spain)

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

Is intensification of reproduction rhythm sustainable in an organic sheep production system? A 4-year interdisciplinary study

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