This study estimates the association between the level of biosecurity, animal welfare, milk quality, and economic performance on 2291 mountain dairy farms which largely differs in management and structure from large dairy operations in the lowlands mainly due to climatic and topographic constraints in mountain areas. The dairy industry’s increasing emphasis on biosecurity is crucial for ensuring animal health, productivity, and disease mitigation. Therefore, in the present study the biosecurity and animal welfare status of mountain dairy farms were assessed considering the official welfare protocol for dairy cows of the Italian ClassyFarm system. Our findings reveal a suboptimal adoption of biosecurity measures, attributed to structural limitations in mountain farms and farmers’ awareness gaps. Despite these challenges, the economic significance of biosecurity adoption is evident, emphasizing potential benefits for farm viability and animal health. Conversely, the study indicates a moderate to good welfare status in assessed farms, reflecting farmers’ awareness of the importance of high welfare standards for dairy cows. Improved welfare positively correlates with milk sales and productivity, highlighting the economic advantages of prioritizing animal well-being. Challenges persist, particularly regarding animal housing deficiencies and related consumer concerns about animal welfare in dairy production. Therefore, targeted interventions and educational initiatives are crucial to empower farmers and promote best practices in biosecurity and animal welfare management. However, addressing resultant production cost increases necessitates society’s willingness to pay more for animal-based food, emphasizing the importance of aligning economic incentives with sustainable farming practices.

The objective of this study was to compare animal-related figures in milk and meat production and economic revenues from milk and animal sales over the last decade of the five most-common dairy cattle breeds in South Tyrol. Auction prices and milk performance control data were considered to calculate milk sales, animal sales and total revenue per cow of the respective breed between January 2009 and December 2019. Results highlight a stepwise substitution of Brown Swiss breed by Simmental breed over the last decade. This is probably related to the greater animal sales and greater total revenue per cow thanks to the dual-purpose characteristics in latter. No significant trend towards the breed Holstein-Friesian was observed although cows of this breed were shown to produce the highest milk yield (MY) per lactation and generated the highest total revenue per cow. Moreover, the local breeds Pinzgauer and Alpine Grey were able to compete in sense of importance as the number of cows remained mainly unaltered over the last decade. Thus, results indicate that although less productive, in sense of MY, local dual-purpose breeds seem to be of high interest for dairy farming systems in an alpine area as the decision for breeds is obviously not only driven by farm income.

Mountain dairy cattle farming systems are pivotal for the economy, as well as for social and environmental aspects. They significantly contribute to rural development, which is currently strongly prioritized in the common European Union agricultural policy; at the same time, they are also increasingly criticized for having a relatively high environmental impact (such as greenhouse gas emissions) per kilogram of product. Consequently, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the environmental efficiency of 2 common alpine dairy farming systems, with a focus on the effects of grazing, considering the seasonal variability in feeding at the individual cow level and farm management over a 3-yr period. This study focuses on alpine farming systems, but can also be considered to effectively represent other topographically disadvantaged mountain areas. We compared an intensively managed and globally dominating production system (high-input) aimed at high milk yield through relatively intensive feeding and the use of the high-yielding dual-purpose Simmental cattle permanently confined in stables, with a forage-based production system (low-input) based on seasonal grazing and the use of the autochthonous dual-purpose breed Tyrolean Grey. For the present analysis, we used a dataset with information on feed intake and diet composition, as well as animal productivity at the individual cow level and farm management data based on multiyear data recording. We quantified 4 impact categories for 3 consecutive years: global warming potential (GWP₁₀₀), acidification potential (AP), marine eutrophication potential (MEP), and land use (LU; in square meters per year and eco points [Pt], with the latter additionally considering the soil quality index). In addition to being attributed to 1 kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), these impact categories were also related to 1 m² of on-farm area. Due to limited agronomic options beyond forage production and pasture use in alpine regions, net provision of protein was calculated for both farming systems to assess food supply and quantify the respective food-feed competition. Overall, the low-input farming system had greater environmental efficiency in terms of MEP per kilogram of FPCM, as well as MEP and AP per square meter than the high-input system. Land use was found to be consistently higher for the high-input than for the low-input system, the GWP₁₀₀ per kilogram of FPCM was lower for the high-input system. Additionally, pasture access had a significant effect on the reduction of environmental impacts. Lastly, the net protein provision was slightly negative for the high-input system and marginally positive for the low-input system, indicating a lower food-feed competition for the latter. Future studies should also address the social and economic aspects of the farming systems in order to offer a comprehensive overview of the 3 key factors necessary for achieving more sustainable farming systems, particularly in disadvantaged marginal regions such as mountain areas.

The aim of the following study was to investigate the effect of dairy production systems, including housing, farm management, pasture access and concentrate supplementation on veterinary diagnosed diseases as well as on administrated drugs in local dual-purpose Alpine Grey (AG) cattle and specialised Brown Swiss (BS) cattle in alpine dairy systems. In the final dataset 916 veterinary diagnosis from 524 cows farmed in 6 low-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (LAG), 9 low-concentrate Brown Swiss farms, (LBS) 11 high-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (HAG) and 15 high-concentrate Brown Swiss farms (HBS) were available for the statistical analysis. The most diagnoses referred to udder health (mastitis, dry-cow therapy) followed by parasite infections and reproduction disorders. In detail, BS had a higher occurrence for mammary infections than AG while HBS farms showed a significant higher incidence for udder diseases compared to all other farm categories. Pasture access had in tendency a beneficial effect on udder health but was detrimental for cows fertility. For latter, special attention should be put on providing sufficient energy supply to grazing animals for avoiding severe negative energy balances and resulting metabolic disorders which reduce fertility. Finally, to reduce the use of antimicrobials classified as highly critical by the WHO in terms of resistance, selective therapies, particularly for mammary infections and dry-cow therapies as well as the inclusion of preventive strategies in every days farm management should be encouraged.

The production of beef carries significant environmental repercussions on a worldwide level. Considering that the production of beef in Alpine mountainous regions, such as South Tyrol (Italy), constitutes a modest yet progressively growing segment within the local agricultural sector focus must be put on minimizing the environmental impact of producing one kilogram of meat, while also accounting for the carbon sequestered by Alpine pastures in such marginal areas. To this end 20 beef farms distributed in the South Tyrolean region (Italy) were divided based on the age at slaughter of the beef cattle: 10 farms with a slaughter age of 12 months (SA12) and 10 farms with a slaughter age of 24 months (SA24). Live cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used, and the impact was estimated using two functional units (FU): 1 kg of live weight (LW) and 1 kg of carcass weight (CW). Global warming potential (GWP₁₀₀, kg CO₂-eq), acidification potential (AP, g SO₂-eq), and eutrophication potential (EP, g PO₄-eq) were investigated. Furthermore, within the account, the carbon sequestered by pastures and permanent grassland has been included for estimated the overall carbon footprint. In terms of GWP₁₀₀, the SA12 system proved to be significantly lower for both two functional units under studies, with reductions of 8.5 % and 7.4 % in terms of LW and CW, respectively, compared to the SA24 system, specifically, the SA12 system showed an environmental impact in terms of GWP₁₀₀ of 19.5 ± 1.1 kg CO₂-eq/kg LW, which was significantly lower than the SA24 system that exhibited a value of 22.9 ± 1.1 kg CO₂-eq/kg LW (P < 0.05). When accounting for the carbon sequestered within the system, the observed values in terms of GWP₁₀₀ are significantly lower for SA12 compared to SA24, 17.6 ± 1.5 vs. 20.9 ± 1.5 kg CO₂-eq/Kg LW (P < 0.05), and 29.2 ± 2.5 vs. 38.7 ± 2.5 kg CO₂-eq/Kg CW (P < 0.01). These differences are due to less purchase of concentrated feed and greater use of natural resources such as pastures and permanent grasslands. The research indicated that the production of beef in the Alpine region of South Tyrol predominantly occurs within extensive parameters, leading to a satisfactory environmental profile, also including the C sequestration.

The European Union makes a significant contribution to the global dairy industry, producing an estimated 160.8 million tons of milk in 2023, which accounts for more than 20% of the world's total milk production. However, the sector faces increasing pressure to align with sustainability goals amid economic constraints, environmental degradation, climate change, and evolving societal expectations. This systematic literature review examines the transition toward sustainable dairy systems across Europe by synthesizing peer-reviewed studies published over the past decade. It analyzes the range of agroecological practices being implemented, such as rotational grazing, breed selection, and reduced-input systems, alongside the roles played by policy frameworks, socio-economic drivers, and technological innovations. The review identifies key barriers to progress, including fragmented policy support, data limitations, and insufficient incentives for farmers. At the same time, it highlights opportunities for a just and effective transition, emphasizing the importance of multiactor collaboration and the urgent need for standardized evaluation frameworks across diverse agroecosystems. This study provides a conceptual and practical foundation to guide future research, policymaking, and on-the-ground initiatives aimed at fostering resilient and sustainable dairy systems in Europe.