Possibilities for healthier cows through breeding

Beat Bapst and Anet Spengler Neff.

Sponsors / Parttners:

ASR (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Schweizerischer Rinderzuchter, the association of Swiss cattle breeders) and Applied Genetic Network.

Purpose

To breed dairy cows for improved health status.

Methods

A questionnaire was developed and sent to 90 European organic associations which had close connections to producers. The survey asked about the presence of standards or regulations that restrict the use of certain reproductive techniques in organic production, and the acceptance of such practices.

Results

The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that there are no broadly established criteria for evaluating reproductive techniques. Although most organizations have reservations about certain methods, they would prefer that these have a chance to be proven rather than prohibited at the outset.