ORGANIC MILK PRODUCTION. PROFIT OR WELFARE?

ORGANIC MILK PRODUCTION. PROFIT OR WELFARE? Interest and uptake of organic milk production has increased in response to milk premium and the conversion grant. However, a fall in milk price with supply ahead of consumption is affecting the outlook. The aim of any production system is to reduce the incidence of disease by good husbandry practice. This is even more fundamental to organic system and a properly constructed herd health plan will help achieve this goal. With organic feeding standards, the main areas of concern are the effect of lower inputs on high yielding cows during the conversion period, mineral nutrition and trace element supplementation. In addition the control of parasites and mastitis feature highly. Contents: Industry Overview and Prospects Herd Health and Welfare Plans Mastitis prevention and control Organic dairy cow nutrition

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AND PROSPECTS The supply of organic milk increased rapidly in response to market demand and financial support to convert. Although the market for organic milk and milk products continues to grow, supply now outstrips demand. Organic milk was promoted heavily in 1999 and 2000. Supermarkets were predicting strong growth for the organic sector and were promoting it strongly. The media was also very supportive. Food scares were an issue in consumer s minds, e.g. BSE, Salmonella, E-coli, GMO s, misuse of antibiotics and pesticides. In addition milk buyers were canvassing producers strongly. The result of this activity was a surge in the number of farmers converting to organic production. Current production is estimated at 240 million litres representing less than 2% of total milk production. Demand for organic milk has grown substantially over the same period. Retail sales have increased by between a third to a half each year since 1999. During 2001 the organic dairy market grew 40% with current consumption estimated at about 165 million litres. Despite growth in demand the market is presently heavily over supplied. This has caused: Organic milk price to fall with organic milk sold on the conventional spot market Milk buyers to be extremely reluctant to take on new suppliers In-conversion farms without a contract are withdrawing or extending the conversion New Consumers are needed for the market to develop. The core green consumers who have sustained the growth in the organic food market represent only 5.8 % of UK households. Market research has identified new consumers as; female, typically between 25 and 44, pre family or with younger children. These new consumers have little knowledge about organic food and purchase for a variety of reasons. Such consumers require more information to justify a higher price. Consumer buying behaviour is multi faceted and complex. Recent Food Standard Agency research on food buying choices identified price is the single most important factor. However this research also suggests that minority factors such as health, production method and country of origin can become significant when prompted. This suggests consumer choices can be influenced if the consumer is given more information to enable consumers to make better choices. Further information: Anon. (2002). Action plan to develop Organic Food & Farming in England. www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/actionplan/prospects.htm MDC, Market prospects for Organic Milk. (Project No 01/T5/03) Lampkin N., Measures M., Padel S. (2002). 2002/03 Organic Farm Management Handbook.

Cooke M. and Whiting D. (2002). Future of organic milk. Soil Association conference, NAC Stoneleigh.

HERD HEALTH AND WELFARE PLANS The United Kingdom Register of Organic Foods Standards (UKROFS) give the framework within which organic farming systems can operate. The standards represent a return to some of the more traditional farming methods, but also include many modern concepts: disease prevention shall be based on the following principles; a) the selection of appropriate breeds b) appropriate animal husbandry practices to encourage strong resistance c) the use of high quality feed d) the use of an appropriate density of livestock. These are excellent sentiments. A more modern concept that forms an important part of the animal health on organic farms is the requirement for a Herd Health Plan. Veterinary treatments must be reduced compared to conventional systems. Organic dairy farming aims to promote a system of milk production progressively less dependent on chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products, although sick animals must be treated and such products are permitted in these cases. Where an animal receives more than 3 such treatments within the year the livestock and produce loose organic status. Use of homeopathic and herbal remedies preventatively and therapeutically is encouraged. Whilst individuals may have there own opinions on the effectiveness of such treatments it is important to remember that there is very little published trial data relating to their use. It is difficult to sanction veterinary treatments with no proven efficacy or safety with respect to residues particularly as conventional treatments have to undergo such rigorous licensing laws, although an open mind should be kept on the use of such alternative therapies. As with conventional farming all drug usage must be recorded accurately and clearly. Herd health plans, standards state: management of all organic livestock requires a plan drawn up by the farmer preferably working with a veterinary surgeon to ensure the development of a pattern of health building and disease control measures appropriate to the farm which allow for the evolution of a farming system which is progressively less dependent on allopathic veterinary medicinal products. Herd Health Plans provide the opportunity for the vet and farmer to work in conjunction and outline a year round full management plan for all livestock on the farm. The plan should remain active and dynamic and be reviewed and improved constantly. A key part of the plan is the accurate and consistent recording of disease information and drug use. The plan can be used to develop management systems to prevent and minimise the incidence of diseases such as calf diseases, parasitic diseases, mastitis, lameness, reproductive and metabolic diseases and infectious disease. The plan should aim to be as specific as possible. The British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) Herd Health Plan gives sufficient scope to allow this.

If you have any concerns about the above issues which may have implications to your own farm, then please discuss them with your Veterinary Surgeon. Further information on herd health plans is available from BCVA: http://www.bcva.org.uk/hp

MASTITIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL The principles of the prevention and control of mastitis in organic dairy herds are no different to those of conventional dairy units. Sound husbandry with attention to detail will see animal welfare and profitability enhanced, regardless of farming system. The NIRD/CVL Five Point Mastitis Control Plan is well established and has been particularly effective in controlling contagious mastitis but not environmental infections. The DEFRA Mastitis Management Action Plan (Mastitis MAP) builds on the success of the Five Point Plan by developing more effectively control of environmental infections. Hygienic teat management is of prime importance to organic dairy producers. Get this right and many mastitis cases will be avoided. Attention to detail is essential. Short cuts will inevitably lead to an increase in SCC and clinical cases of mastitis. Prompt identification and treatment of clinical cases is still detected best by foremilking. Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment. Individual quarter conductivity measurements (as available in some automatic milking systems) can prove useful. Dry cow management and therapy are essential to clear any existing or latent infection at drying off. A proven treatment is necessary and may involve dry cow antibiotic therapy. This must be fully discussed with your veterinary surgeon. Not to treat will hamper both animal welfare and farm profit. Cows with SCC above 400,000 will certainly be mastitic and therefore full and effective treatment must be provided. There is some evidence to suggest that animals with a somatic cell count less than 200,000 cells/ml at drying off (and consistently so throughout the lactation) can generally be considered un-infected. It is therefore important to prevent new infections during the dry period. A product is being introduced this autumn in the UK available as a Prescription Only Medicine via the veterinary surgeon and is claimed to provide a physical barrier to new infection during the dry period. Accurate record keeping is essential but often neglected. Accurate records allow problem cows to be identified and monitored. Ideally they should be milked last, but this is often impractical. Therefore the cluster should be effectively disinfected before re-use. Mastitis causing bacteria can readily be spread to the next 5-6 cows milked. Culling of chronically infected cows is arguably even more important in organic dairy herds to prevent spread from cow to cow. It not a solution to mastitis in a herd, discuss with your veterinary surgeon. Regular milking machine maintenance and testing is often neglected. Survey after survey on milking machines highlight their poor state of disrepair. Not only must the milking machine be correctly installed it is imperative that it is regularly tested, serviced and properly maintained on a daily basis. Although often not the primary cause of mastitis - the milking machine can hamper effective treatment and make matters worse. Organic dairy. Mastitis husbandry handout 1

Further information: DEFRA booklet (PB 4661) Treatment and Prevention of Mastitis. Organic dairy. Mastitis husbandry handout 2

ORGANIC DAIRY COW NUTRITION Organic standards aim to reduce the incidence of disease by good husbandry practice and the feeding of a wholesome diet. There are three areas of concern for animal welfare under organic feeding standards: the effect of lower inputs on high yielding cows during the conversion period mineral nutrition trace element supplementation Converting high potential cows can result in excessive weight loss. The modern dairy cow has been bred to produce a high yield of milk from an energy dense diet but organic standards put an upper limit on concentrate input and do not allow high energy supplements. Concern has been expressed that high potential cows may not be able to convert to an organic system because of excessive weight loss in the early part of lactation as they attempt to produce to genetic potential. Conversion of high potential cows is possible but changes to the diet specification should be anticipated and introduced gradually. Target condition score at calving should be 3 although this may be difficult to attain with all cows. Condition should be gained in the last third of the previous lactation, any attempt to correct in the dry period could lead to calving problems. Mineral nutrition from forages varies widely and depends on the soil status, soil ph and the crop grown. The major minerals, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium should be considered when calculating winter diets. For this to be done accurately a mineral analysis of the main forages is required. Cereals, peas and beans are all poor sources of calcium and will require some addition of calcium to meet requirements. Low calcium intake will increase the risk of milk fever after calving. Phosphorus intake is likely to be marginal at peak yield and supplementation will be necessary for high yields. Low dietary phosphorus can limit yield and reduce fertility. The uptake of both calcium and phosphorus, along with certain other minerals is adversely affected if the balance is incorrect. The Ca:P ratio should be between 1:1 and 1.5:1. Magnesium can be of concern in spring and sometimes in the autumn. Magnesium content of rapidly grown lush grass can be low. This may be combined with a high potassium content which will reduce magnesium uptake. The risk of staggers under organic management is greatly reduced compared to conventional management. Grass grows more slowly and is lower in potassium if artificial fertilisers have not been used. Trace element supplementation may be required for copper, cobalt and selenium. Manganese and iodine may also be below dietary requirements. Organic standards allow the inclusion of trace element salts into the diet and in some cases allow trace element treatments within an animal health plan. Any treatment should be supported by either analytical evidence of feeds or blood samples, or from diagnosis of deficiency from animal symptoms. Organic dairy. Mastitis husbandry handout 1

Organic farming practice may produce profound changes to mineral nutrition; stock should be monitored during and after conversion. The establishment and use of different crops in a rotation, an increase in lime status/soil ph, deeper rooting plants, and the increased activity of the soil micro-organisms will all influence the animal s mineral intake Organic dairy. Mastitis husbandry handout 2