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To evaluate the health, welfare and milk quality and fatty acid composition from a representative sample of organic and conventional dairy herds in Ontario in relation to production practices as a benchmark.

Modern day consumers expect high quality and value from their dairy purchases. Of primary interest are taste, color, smell and food safety, and more recently, enhanced nutritional value. Some consumers are now giving higher consideration for production practices in their purchases as they relate to animal health and welfare, ecologically sustainable production, and the absence of chemicals, pesticides and antibiotics. These niche market values are captured with price premiums through organic production. The current organic market was still less than 1% of the total world food market in 2005, although it is a strong growing sector worldwide. In Canada, the production of organic dairy products is concentrated in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. In 2005-2006, the 3 provinces counted 118 organic dairy farms producing more than 40.8 million litres of milk (Sector profile, 2007). Alberta only had two organic dairy farms in 2006-2007, but is experiencing the highest increase in market demand in Canada (Macey, 2007). As a response, 10 Alberta dairy farms are currently transitioning to organic production (Keri Sharpe, Alberta Agriculture, personal communication).

Organic livestock production standards strongly emphasize a preventative approach to herd health management through adopting practices that reduce stress and improve health through feed and supplements (see CAN/CGSB32.310-2006, amended October 2008). Should organic practices fail, conventional treatment cannot be withheld from an animal to maintain organic status. Concern has anecdotally been expressed, however, that the restrictions in organic livestock production may ultimately jeopardize animal health and welfare. In contrast, organic advocates (including producers) have indicated that herd health is improved under organic management and the need for chemical allopathic drugs is greatly reduced.

The objectives of this research are to evaluate the health and welfare of cows, and the quality and fatty acid composition of milk, in relation to production practices. The study will focus on many of those practices emphasized in the Organic Management Standards such as pasturing and alternative health management (see CAN/CGSB32.310-2006, amended October 2008). A study will be conducted in which 30 organic dairy herds and 30 conventional dairy herds from Ontario will be monitored over a one- year period. Health and culling events, along with treatment applications will be recorded and evaluated in relation to farm practices within each of the sectors. To assess udder health and milk quality, every udder quarter infected with clinical mastitis will be sampled for one year. Milk composition will be evaluated in spring, summer, fall and winter with an emphasis on determining fatty acid composition of the milk fat. On-farm assessments of animal welfare will be carried out twice per farm in the winter and summer. These assessments will include cow-level measures of welfare (body condition, cleanliness, lameness, etc) as well as farm-level measures (housing and management practices).

The results of this research will be used to promote improved management practices on both organic and conventional dairy farms, as well as reduce costs and increase efficiency through improved animal health and welfare.

• [PDF - 30 kB]
  • Canadian Organic Science Conference. 2012
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  • Katharine Tuerke for . 2013
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  • The Canadian Organic Grower. 2012
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  • Canadian Organic Science Conference. 2012
• The science of cow behaviour: An interview with Dr. Trevor DeVries
  • OACC News Article. 2013
    
• Use of eye white and heart rate as dynamic indicators of welfare in Holstein dairy cattle
  • 5th International Conference on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level. 2011

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