Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of a feeding strategy in Danish dairy herds is given, supporting the intake of roughage, which
is particularly suitable for an organic farm.
Also, feeding in order to meet the special nature and demands of each animal species is
needed. Different animal species have different needs for combining eating behaviour with
other types of behaviour such as rooting or foraging (Waiblinger
et
al
. 2004). Incorporating
this concept into animal production systems means that animals, in accordance with their
natural behaviour, should be given the opportunity to remain in groups, have access to eating
at the same time, and be given as much freedom of choice as possible to drink, eat, lie down
and move. Transition periods such as between summer and winter, or from lactation (or pro-
duction) to dry periods should be gentle.
Grazing and grassland management
Almost 60% of the certified organic land area is grassland (Hamm and Gronefeld 2004). On a
global level, many challenges exist in terms of grassland farming under different conditions
(not only certified organic), ranging from sub-Saharan Africa, where 50% of farmers are either
pastoralists or agropastoralists, and where much land is communal grazing areas, partly
involving transhumance. In European countries such as Switzerland, Romania, Poland,
Scotland and Norway, different grazing systems exist on large land areas, whereas other coun-
tries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK have systems where detailed planning of
grassland and other crops is necessary. This is important in order to maintain harmony of a
farm level with very limited land in relation to the number of animals, including limited per-
manent grasslands (Younie
et
al
. 2004). In Box 7.3, an example is given of feeding and the
resulting milk production based on management of an integrated crop-livestock system with
an intensive dairy herd in Denmark.
In Box 7.4, an example is given of Australian organic grassland farming as an example of
organic production of beef based on pure grazing systems. The rangelands of Australia cover
around 70% of the continent. Livestock production is the most widespread use, being largely
an 'organic-by default' production system involving minimum inputs and low intensity pro-
duction with native pasture species and in some instances, improved or supplemented pasture.
Stock handling is kept to a minimum, with cattle being mustered on average twice per year,
which may include using horses, motorbikes, vehicles, helicopters or light planes. The carrying
capacity of some types of country can be as low as one steer per square kilometre. The Channel
Country is a significant part of the internally draining Lake Eyre Basin where rain falls in the
subtropics and traverses hundreds of kilometres through arid areas to drain into Lake Eyre,
bordered by deserts. Livestock are predominantly beef cattle (
Bos
taurus
or
Bos
indicus
) with
sheep in the semi-arid zones.
Bos
indicus
breeds prevail in the humid tropics and subtropics,
thereby minimising issues associated with cattle tick or lice.
Health promotion and the human role in organic animal herds
In
Chapter 8
, Lund discusses the role of humans in relation to the welfare of the individual
animals on a farm. In regard to health and wellbeing, knowledge of the behavioural patterns of
the animals is important, as well as the intense surveillance of the animals and the herd
combined with immediate intervention when necessary. In some systems with large f flocks of
animals, for example in Australian beef herds, the individual animal may be living a highly
natural life, but it is not as closely looked after as an individual animal in more intensive pro-
duction systems. In the latter case, closer proximity means the farm operator is more likely to
observe problems and intervene early, reducing possible prolonged suffering.
