Sorge U S, Moon R, Wolff L J, Michels L, Schroth S, Kelton D F, Heins B
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
J Dairy Sci. 2016 Apr;99(4):3183-3192. doi: 10.3168/jds.2015-10193. Epub 2016 Jan 29.
The objective of this study was to describe and compare husbandry practices on organic and conventional dairy farms of similar sizes in Minnesota. Organic (ORG, n=35), same-sized conventional (SC, n=15, <200 cows) and medium-sized conventional (MC, n=13, ≥200 cows) dairy herds were visited in 2012, and farmers were interviewed once about their farm, herd demographics, and herd management practices concerning nutrition, housing, and reproductive programs. Organic farms had been established as long as conventional farms, and ORG producers had most commonly selected ORG farming because of a negative perception of pesticides for human health. The distribution of cattle breeds and ages differed across farm types. Organic farms had more crossbred cows and a greater number of older cows than conventional farms, who had mainly Holstein cattle. Organic farms did not dock tails, were more likely to use breeding bulls, and were less likely to conduct pregnancy diagnoses in cattle. All conventional farmers fed corn, corn silage, and hay, but no forage or feed supplement was fed by all ORG farms with the exception of pasture. Kelp was supplemented on most ORG farms but on none of the conventional farms. In summary, although there were differences across farm types regarding the use of pasture, feeds, and feed additives, breed and age distribution, reproductive management, and the use of tail docking, observations in other management areas showed large overlap across herd types.
本研究的目的是描述和比较明尼苏达州规模相似的有机奶牛场和传统奶牛场的养殖方式。2012年，研究人员走访了有机奶牛场（ORG，n = 35）、同等规模的传统奶牛场（SC，n = 15，奶牛数量<200头）和中等规模的传统奶牛场（MC，n = 13，奶牛数量≥200头），并就农场情况、畜群人口统计学以及营养、住房和繁殖计划等畜群管理做法对农民进行了一次访谈。有机农场的建立时间与传统农场一样长，ORG生产者最常选择有机养殖是因为他们对农药对人类健康的负面影响有看法。不同农场类型的牛品种和年龄分布有所不同。与主要饲养荷斯坦奶牛的传统农场相比，有机农场的杂交奶牛更多，老年奶牛数量也更多。有机农场不进行断尾，更有可能使用种公牛，而对牛进行妊娠诊断的可能性较小。所有传统农场主都喂玉米、玉米青贮饲料和干草，但除了牧场外，并非所有ORG农场都喂食草料或饲料添加剂。大多数ORG农场都添加了海带，而传统农场则没有。总之，尽管不同农场类型在牧场、饲料和饲料添加剂的使用、品种和年龄分布、繁殖管理以及断尾的使用方面存在差异，但在其他管理领域的观察结果表明，不同畜群类型之间存在很大的重叠。
