Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality
Pasture-based dairy production is used widely on family dairy farms in Southern Brazil. This study investigates conventional high input (C-HI), conventional low input (C-LI), and organic low input (O-LI) pasture-based systems and their effects on quantity and quality of the milk produced. We conduc...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/3/0367 |
| _version_ | 1830091017762635776 |
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| author | Shirley Kuhnen Rudinei Butka Stibuski Luciana Aparecida Honorato Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho |
| author_facet | Shirley Kuhnen Rudinei Butka Stibuski Luciana Aparecida Honorato Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho |
| author_sort | Shirley Kuhnen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pasture-based dairy production is used widely on family dairy farms in Southern Brazil. This study investigates conventional high input (C-HI), conventional low input (C-LI), and organic low input (O-LI) pasture-based systems and their effects on quantity and quality of the milk produced. We conducted technical site visits and interviews monthly over one year on 24 family farms (n = 8 per type). C-HI farms had the greatest total area (28.9 ha), greatest percentage of area with annual pasture (38.7%), largest number of lactating animals (26.2) and greatest milk yield per cow (22.8 kg·day−1). O-LI farms had the largest perennial pasture area (52.3%), with the greatest botanical richness during all seasons. Area of perennial pasture was positively correlated with number of species consumed by the animals (R2 = 0.74). Milk from O-LI farms had higher levels of fat and total solids only during the winter. Hygienic and microbiological quality of the milk was poor for all farms and need to be improved. C-HI farms had high milk yield related to high input, C-LI had intermediate characteristics and O-LI utilized a year round perennial pasture as a strategy to diminish the use of supplements in animal diets, which is an important aspect in ensuring production sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:13:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75494759519d4c1d902f01e9212c185f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:13:16Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-75494759519d4c1d902f01e9212c185f2022-12-21T22:23:22ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152015-07-015347949410.3390/ani5030367ani5030367Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk QualityShirley Kuhnen0Rudinei Butka Stibuski1Luciana Aparecida Honorato2Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho3Department of Zootechny and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, BrazilGraduate Program in Agroecosystems, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, BrazilGraduate Program in Agroecosystems, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, BrazilDepartment of Zootechny and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, BrazilPasture-based dairy production is used widely on family dairy farms in Southern Brazil. This study investigates conventional high input (C-HI), conventional low input (C-LI), and organic low input (O-LI) pasture-based systems and their effects on quantity and quality of the milk produced. We conducted technical site visits and interviews monthly over one year on 24 family farms (n = 8 per type). C-HI farms had the greatest total area (28.9 ha), greatest percentage of area with annual pasture (38.7%), largest number of lactating animals (26.2) and greatest milk yield per cow (22.8 kg·day−1). O-LI farms had the largest perennial pasture area (52.3%), with the greatest botanical richness during all seasons. Area of perennial pasture was positively correlated with number of species consumed by the animals (R2 = 0.74). Milk from O-LI farms had higher levels of fat and total solids only during the winter. Hygienic and microbiological quality of the milk was poor for all farms and need to be improved. C-HI farms had high milk yield related to high input, C-LI had intermediate characteristics and O-LI utilized a year round perennial pasture as a strategy to diminish the use of supplements in animal diets, which is an important aspect in ensuring production sustainability.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/3/0367organic milkpasture-based dairy productionsustainable agriculturefood security |
| spellingShingle | Shirley Kuhnen Rudinei Butka Stibuski Luciana Aparecida Honorato Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality Animals organic milk pasture-based dairy production sustainable agriculture food security |
| title | Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality |
| title_full | Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality |
| title_fullStr | Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality |
| title_short | Farm Management in Organic and Conventional Dairy Production Systems Based on Pasture in Southern Brazil and Its Consequences on Production and Milk Quality |
| title_sort | farm management in organic and conventional dairy production systems based on pasture in southern brazil and its consequences on production and milk quality |
| topic | organic milk pasture-based dairy production sustainable agriculture food security |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/3/0367 |
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