ORGANIC DAIRY HUSBANDRY

To acquire a general idea of the present situation of organic dairy hu sbandry, a total of 268 certified organic dairy farms were interviewed in the frame of farm visits. In addition two annual closings done by the milk record association as well as the somatic cell counts of two years were analyzed. The interviewed farms acceptably represent the re gional distribution of organic farms in Germany as well as their membe rship In the various organic farmers associations. The results contain figures related to the fields ''general farm data'', ''feeding'', ''h ousing'', ''animal health'', ''calves and young stock'' as well as per formance data. Between the various kinds of data a great number of con nections has been made to point out possible relationships. As far as possible in the discussion comparisons are drawn between organic ana c onventional agriculture to bring our the strength and weakness of orga nic dairy husbandry. Special complexes of problems are identified and research needs are indicated. Altogether, it can be stated that the de mand of organic farming is most likely met in the field of feeding whi ch is characterized by a moderate input of concentrates and to a large extent the renouncement of purchasing additional feedingstuffs from o utside the farm (closed nutrient cycles). The health status of organic dairy cows seems not be fundamentally different from the one of conve ntional herds. As to the therapy of diseases, organic farmers are look ing for alternatives which can be shown by the widespread use of natur al veterinary medical methods. The most important discrepancy between demand and reality exists in the field of animal housing where all-yea r indoor keeping and tie stalls still can be found. Because the costs of converting these housing systems into better ones are very high, it will take a considerable space of rime to change this situation.