Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

! Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue No 362 (Braunschweig, 2012) ISSN 0376-0723
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get used to that too. Bichard (2010) also pointed out that a young bull system can achieve similar
genetic progress as a testing scheme and setting up such a system needs time. This situation can be
compared to farmers’ trust needed for breeding values based on genomic selection (Veerkamp,
2008).
Cloning, genomic modification and biopatents of animals are slowly gaining ground in agricultural
industry (Brophy et al., 2003; Tvedt, 2007). Such practices can make distinct organic breeding programmes
very important in the near future. Experiences with organic breeding schemes are needed
if the sector is to hold its own in the fact of such developments. Current animal-unfriendly practices
in cattle breeding conflict with one of the most important reasons for consumers to buy organic
products: the perception of greater animal welfare (De Wit and Van Amersfoort, 2001). Organic AI
can be an important step towards more organic breeding, not only in the Netherlands but also elsewhere.
It is possible, but it will not happen without effort. Can organic AI in the Netherlands pave
the way for other countries? A concerted international effort also depends on the development of
rules on organic breeding. This is important to close the organic production chain completely, including
the use of breeding stock.
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