Status quo der Tiergesundheitssituation in der ökologischen Milchviehhaltung – Mastitis, Lahmheiten, Stoffwechselstörungen

It was the aim of the present study to assess the health state in German organic dairy farming with regard to mastitis, lameness and metabolic disorders, to investigate possible relationships with the specific housing conditions and/or the use of preventive measures, and to point out chances for further development. The project consisted of a questionnaire study (1.000 farms) and on-farm investigations in a representative sub-sample of 50 farms. In each farm, herd health records from 2001 and 2002 were copied and subsequently evaluated with regard to mastitis and metabolic disorders. Lameness prevalence was recorded using a 5-point locomotion scoring system during the farm visit. Mastitis incidence ranged between 1 and 101 % (mean 33,4 %). The average lameness prevalence was 17,6 % (2 – 53 %) with herds housed in cubicles showing significantly more lameness (19,7 %, 4 – 53 %) than herds on straw yard systems (10,0 %, 2 – 19 %; p