Die Rinderhaltung im Ökologischen Landbau - eine tiergerechte ...

From the facts mentioned, the demand for revision of the legal standards for cattle husbandry
in general and particularly the guidelines for cattle husbandry in the ecological agriculture is
to be put forward.
The usage of assessment concepts (i.e. ANI � animal welfare index) and the environmental
tolerance (i.e. Solagro, ÖKABB, Ökopunkte, KUL) allow no absolute statement but can however
give precious support in the improvement of different management- and husbandry systems.
At the present moment the cattle husbandry in the sustainable agriculture differs only
slightly from the cattle farming in the conventional agriculture regarding the animal welfare
and thus provides no real alternative. A final answer to the question of differences in the environmental
tolerance between these two ways of agricultural management can only be given if
concepts are made available which make a comparative judgement of different managementand
husbandry systems possible.
The comments make aware of the existing scientific as well as political need for action.
143