Author(s): SILVA, J. B.; FAGUNDES, G. M.; SOARES, J. P. G.; FONSECA, A. H.; MUIR, J. P.

Summary: Health and production management strategies influence environmental impacts of dairies. The objective of this paper was to measure risk factors on health and production parameters on six organic and conventional bovine, caprine, and ovine dairy herds in southeastern Brazil over six consecutive years (2006?2011). The organic operations had lower milk production per animal (P≤0.05), lower calf mortality (P≤0.05), less incidence of mastitis (P≤0.05), fewer rates of spontaneous abortions (P≤0.05), and reduced ectoparasite loads (P≤0.05) compared to conventional herds and flocks. Organic herds, however, had greater prevalence of internal parasitism (P≤0.05) than conventional herds. In all management systems, calves, kids, and lambs had greater oocyte counts than adults. However, calves in the organic group showed lower prevalence of coccidiosis. In addition, animals in the organic system exhibited lower parasitic resistance to anthelmintics. Herd genetic potential, nutritive value of forage, feed intake, and pasture parasite loads, however, may have influenced productive and health parameters. Thus, although conventional herds showed greater milk production and less disease prevalence, future research might quantify the potential implications of these unreported factors.

Publication year: 2014

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Cerrados

Keywords: Brasil, Brazil, Cabra leiteira, Desenvolvimento sustentável, Gado leiteiro, Goat milk, Leite, Leite de cabra, Milk, Milk production, Ovelha, Produção leiteira, Sheep, Sustainable development