Advances in Organic Dairy Cattle Farming

Dr Mette Vaarst is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Animal Science at Aarhus University, Denmark. She has published extensively on organic animal farming, coordinated several European research projects and co-edited Improving organic animal farming, published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing in 2019. Dr Stephen Roderick is Research Manager in the Rural Business School at Duchy College in the UK. He has published widely on animal health and farm resource management, was formerly Associate Editor of Organic Agriculture and co-edited Improving organic animal farming. Dr Lindsay Whistance is Senior Livestock Researcher at the Organic Research Centre in the UK. She is internationally known for her research on farm animal behaviour, health, welfare and nutrition in organic agriculture.

Introduction: understanding the diversity of organic dairy farming in Europe: Mette Vaarst, Aarhus University, Denmark;

Part 1 Improving breeding and nutrition



Optimising breeding and genetic diversity in organic and low-input dairy farming: Morten Kargo, Aarhus University, Denmark;
Optimising soils, pasture and grasslands for organic dairy farming: Hannah Jones, Farm Carbon Toolkit, UK;
Assessing and optimising organic milk quality: Gillian Butler, Newcastle University, UK;

Part 2 Improving health, welfare and life opportunities



One-welfare perspectives on organic dairy farming: Lindsay Whistance, Organic Research Centre, UK;
The lives of calves from organic dairy farms: Kerstin Barth, Thünen Institute, Germany;
Improving herd health management and disease prevention in organic dairy cattle: Lisa Morgans, Innovation for Agriculture, UK;
The use of plant bio-active compounds and other alternative therapeutic strategies in organic dairy farming: Maria Groot, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;
Improving the management of parasites in organic dairy farming: Stig Milan Thamsborg, University of Copenhagen, Denmark;
An ethical framework for the use of technologies on organic dairy farming: David Rose, Royal Agricultural University, UK;

Part 3 Improving sustainability



Optimising integration of dairy cows into a resilient whole farm context: Stephen Roderick, Duchy College, UK;
How can organic dairy farming address and improve biodiversity and healthy ecosystems?: Will Simonson, Organic Research Centre, UK;
Understanding consumer attitudes and market structures around organic/low-input dairy farming: Otto Schmid, FiBL, Switzerland;
The role of organic dairy farming in the development of sustainable food, ecological and social systems: Mette Vaarst, Aarhus University, Denmark;