Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

! Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue No 362 (Braunschweig, 2012) ISSN 0376-0723
Download: www.vti.bund.de/en/startseite/vti-publications/landbauforschung-special-issues.html
The farmers kept between 18 and 240 cows (Median 65 cows). The common breed was Holstein
Friesian as pure breed (51 farms) or cross (19 farms) followed by the breed “Deutsches Schwarzbuntes
Niederungsrind” (nine farms) and other. Cows were kept in cubicles on 69 farms, in a loose
housing on 13 farms and in a mixture of both on three farms. In summer on most farms cows were
kept on pasture for grazing (80 farmers day and night, one farm half day) and on four farms the
cows were kept in stall with access to open air areas. Young cattle were kept in loose housing (51
farms), in cubicles (42 farms), on pasture (three farms) and in tied stalls (three farms) in winter. In
summer on nearly all farms young cattle were kept on pasture (81 farms) and on two farms in a
loose housing with access to open air areas. Two of the farms did not keep young cattle at all.
Results
On organic dairy farms in Lower Saxony most cows were polled: The percentage of polled cows
was 100% of the cows on 44 farms, more than 90% of the cows on 14 farms, between 50% and
90% of the cows on eleven farms, between 0% and 50% of the cows on eight farms. On eight farms
all cows were not dehorned. On one farm all cows were genetically polled and further six farmers
kept a few genetically polled cows.
Most farmers (62 farmers) claimed to poll their calves (PO-farmers). As the main reasons for dehorning
the PO-farmers named fear of injuries with animals (95%), with farmers (84%) or family
members (48%), with visitors (8%), and with employees (5%). Twelve farmers had own experiences
with injuries caused by cows with horns (five of these with humans, four of these with animals,
three of these with dead animals).
However several PO-farmers saw reasons for not polling: Many farmers (40%) stated that horns
belong to the essence of cows, some mentioned keeping cows with horns would prevent the effort
of dehorning (15%). Further aspects were the conversion of the farm to Demeter (5%), traditional
reasons (3%) and health advantage for the cow due to horns (3%).
Nevertheless, PO-farmers expected problems caused by horned cattle first of all in the case of battle
for status (76%), followed by too small stable size (52%), and not suitable bunk (50%). Others
named the problems of blind alleys in the stable (16%), not suitable feeding station (15%), and parlour
(13%). In addition some expect problems marketing horned heifers (13%), while keeping
horned and dehorned cows in one group (11%), with automatic milking (6%), and due to stress
while feeding (5%).
19 farmers had stopped dehorning in the past but started again and practiced it at the time of the
survey. The reasons for dehorning again were injuries with animals (84%), more stress in the herd
(26%) and injuries with humans (11%).
Most PO-farmers planned to use genetically polled bulls in the future (95%). 56% of the farmers
had already started in order to stop polling someday.
14 farmers stopped dehorning in the last years. They alluded the following reasons: claimed for not
polling: the conversion to organic farming (64%), the essence of the cow (43%), just do not want to
dehorn anymore (21%), the large size of the stall (7%) and the better milk quality from horned cows
(7%).
Discussion
There is a considerable gap between the aim of organic farming and the reality of several farms
concerning dehorning cattle. All participators in the organic section agree with the fact that dehorning
should not be done any more. It is important to make sure, that changes are undertaken in the
same manner in Europe as well as in all counties in Germany. The foreground should be to ensure
that in case of the farmers being forced by law to stop dehorning, cattle do not suffer more.
196