Proceedings of the British Mastitis Conference (2001) Garstang, p 1-12 Institute for Animal Health/Milk Development Council 1 MASTITIS IN DANISH ORGANIC DAIRYING Mette Vaarst Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 50, DK–8830 Tjele, Denmark. Email: Mette.Vaarst@agrsci.dk SUMMARY An overview is given of the development of Danish organic dairy farming with special emphasis on udder health and handling of mastitis during the past decade. Risk factors and challenges, which exist within the organic production system, are discussed. Treatment strategies are discussed briefly. It is concluded that the mastitis situation in organic herds does not differ from the situation in conventional herds – and in cases where it does, it has not been in favour of the organic production system during the past few years. Former studies in ‘old organic herds’ indicate a better udder health in the study herds, which was explained by care-taking and consequent intervention when needed. One of the major future challenges is the search for solutions, in accordance with the organic ideas and goals, to improve the mastitis to organic milk production. INTRODUCTION: ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION IN DENMARK Organic dairy farming can be defined by a set of basic ideas and values. On the overall farm level, recycling of nutrients, closeness between farming society and consumers (2,3), and harmony between levels in the farm (e.g. number of animals per hectare) are important. Organic farming involves a set of governmental legislation and rules, whose overall purpose is to explain practically how organic farmers may ‘live up to the organic production method’. - 85% organic food; no feed additives. A recent agreement between dairy farmers and dairies that organic cows are fed 100% organic food. - Calving must be carried out in calving pens. - Cows and calves must stay together for at least 24 hours after calving. - All animals must receive littered bedding. - Group housing of calves is called for after one week. - The suckling instinct of the calf must be satisfied (through the use of teat buckets, nurse cows or blind teats). - Animals older than 3 months must have access to grazing for 150 days during summer. - All antibiotic treatment of dairy cows must be administered by a veterinarian. The initial treatment of calves with antibiotics and other drugs must be administered by a veterinarian, but with calves, the farmer can administer subsequent treatment for 5 days, if the calf’s identification and the date are clearly indicated on the medicine bottle. - No prophylactic medical treatment of disease is allowed.