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The levels of production diseases (PD) and the cow replacement rate are high in dairy farming. They indicate excessive production demands on the cow and a poor state of animal welfare. This is the subject of increasing public debate. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of production diseases on the economic sustainability of dairy farms. The contributions of individual culled cows to the farm’s economic performance were calculated, based on milk recording and accounting data from 32 farms in Germany. Cows were identified as ‘profit cows’ when they reached their individual ‘break-even point’. Data from milk recordings (yield and indicators for PD) were used to cluster farms by means of a principal component and a cluster analysis. The analysis revealed five clusters of farms. The average proportion of profit cows was 57.5%, 55.6%, 44.1%, 29.4% and 19.5%. Clusters characterized by a high proportion of cows with metabolic problems and high culling and mortality rates had lower proportions of profit cows, somewhat irrespective of the average milk-yield per cow. Changing the perception of PD from considering it as collateral damage to a threat to the farms’ economic viability might foster change processes to reduce production diseases.
Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Jonas Habel; Verena Uhlig; Eva-Marie Schwabenbauer; Theresa Rumphorst; Lara Ebert; Detlev Möller; Albert Sundrum. The Whole and the Parts—A New Perspective on Production Diseases and Economic Sustainability in Dairy Farming. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9044 .
AMA StyleSusanne Hoischen-Taubner, Jonas Habel, Verena Uhlig, Eva-Marie Schwabenbauer, Theresa Rumphorst, Lara Ebert, Detlev Möller, Albert Sundrum. The Whole and the Parts—A New Perspective on Production Diseases and Economic Sustainability in Dairy Farming. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9044.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusanne Hoischen-Taubner; Jonas Habel; Verena Uhlig; Eva-Marie Schwabenbauer; Theresa Rumphorst; Lara Ebert; Detlev Möller; Albert Sundrum. 2021. "The Whole and the Parts—A New Perspective on Production Diseases and Economic Sustainability in Dairy Farming." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9044.
Although ensuring good animal health is a stated aim of organic livestock farming and an important reason why consumers purchase organic products, the health states actually achieved are comparable to those in conventional farming. Unfortunately, there have been no studies to date that have assessed stakeholder views on different policy options for improving animal health on organic dairy farms. To address this deficit, stakeholder consultations were conducted in four European countries, involving 39 supply-chain stakeholders (farmers, advisors, veterinarians, inspectors, processors, and retailers). Stakeholders were encouraged to discuss different ways, including policy change, of improving organic health states. Acknowledging the need for further health improvements in organic dairy herds, stakeholders generally favoured establishing outcome-oriented animal health requirements as a way of achieving this. However, as a result of differing priorities for animal health improvement, there was disagreement on questions such as: who should be responsible for assessing animal health status on organic farms; and how to define and implement minimum health requirements. The results of the study suggest that future research must fully explore the opportunities and risks of different policy options and also suggest ways to overcome the divergence of stakeholders’ interests in public debates.
Margret Krieger; Philip J. Jones; Isabel Blanco-Penedo; Julie E. Duval; Ulf Emanuelson; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Karin Sjöström; Albert Sundrum. Improving Animal Health on Organic Dairy Farms: Stakeholder Views on Policy Options. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3001 .
AMA StyleMargret Krieger, Philip J. Jones, Isabel Blanco-Penedo, Julie E. Duval, Ulf Emanuelson, Susanne Hoischen-Taubner, Karin Sjöström, Albert Sundrum. Improving Animal Health on Organic Dairy Farms: Stakeholder Views on Policy Options. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):3001.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMargret Krieger; Philip J. Jones; Isabel Blanco-Penedo; Julie E. Duval; Ulf Emanuelson; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Karin Sjöström; Albert Sundrum. 2020. "Improving Animal Health on Organic Dairy Farms: Stakeholder Views on Policy Options." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 3001.
Production diseases, such as metabolic and reproductive disorders, mastitis, and lameness, emerge from complex interactions between numerous factors (or variables) but can be controlled by the right management decisions. Since animal husbandry systems in practice are very diverse, it is difficult to identify the most influential components in the individual farm context. However, it is necessary to do this to control disease, since farmers are severely limited in their access to resources, and need to invest in management measures most likely to have an effect. In this study, systemic impact analyses were conducted on 192 organic dairy farms in France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden in the context of reducing the prevalence of production diseases. The impact analyses were designed to evaluate the interrelationships between farm variables and determine the systemic roles of these variables. In particular, the aim was to identify the most influential variables on each farm. The impact analysis consisted of a stepwise process: (i) in a participatory process 13 relevant system variables affecting the emergence of production diseases on organic dairy farms were defined; (ii) the interrelationships between these variables were evaluated by means of an impact matrix on the farm-level, involving the perspectives of the farmer, an advisor and the farm veterinarian; and (iii) the results were then used to identify general system behaviour and to classify variables by their level of influence on other system variables and their susceptibility to influence. Variables were either active (high influence, low susceptibility), reactive (low influence, high susceptibility), critical (both high), or buffering (both low). An overall active tendency was found for feeding regime, housing conditions, herd health monitoring, and knowledge and skills, while milk performance and financial resources tended to be reactive. Production diseases and labour capacity had a tendency for being critical while reproduction management, dry cow management, calf and heifer management, hygiene and treatment tended to have a buffering capacity. While generalised tendencies for variables emerged, the specific role of variables could vary widely between farms. The strength of this participatory impact assessment approach is its ability, through filling in the matrix and discussion of the output between farmer, advisor and veterinarian, to explicitly identify deviations from general expectations, thereby supporting a farm-specific selection of health management strategies and measures
Margret Krieger; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Ulf Emanuelson; Isabel Blanco-Penedo; Manon de Joybert; Julie E. Duval; Karin Sjöström; Philip J. Jones; Albert Sundrum. Capturing systemic interrelationships by an impact analysis to help reduce production diseases in dairy farms. Agricultural Systems 2017, 153, 43 -52.
AMA StyleMargret Krieger, Susanne Hoischen-Taubner, Ulf Emanuelson, Isabel Blanco-Penedo, Manon de Joybert, Julie E. Duval, Karin Sjöström, Philip J. Jones, Albert Sundrum. Capturing systemic interrelationships by an impact analysis to help reduce production diseases in dairy farms. Agricultural Systems. 2017; 153 ():43-52.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMargret Krieger; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Ulf Emanuelson; Isabel Blanco-Penedo; Manon de Joybert; Julie E. Duval; Karin Sjöström; Philip J. Jones; Albert Sundrum. 2017. "Capturing systemic interrelationships by an impact analysis to help reduce production diseases in dairy farms." Agricultural Systems 153, no. : 43-52.
The transfer of knowledge and information gained from scientific investigations into farm practice is a primary constituent of applied agricultural science. The importance of this for both agricultural practice and agricultural science is in stark contrast with the fact that only very few studies have been conducted so far which has focussed on the framework required to achieve a successful transfer of knowledge. Both the necessary prerequisites for and potential barriers to the successful transfer of knowledge regarding the issue of animal health have been the topic of this study taking different stakeholder perspectives into account. Based on a socio-cognitive approach to knowledge transfer, different communication techniques (e.g. estimations of animal health situations, environmental stakeholder analysis and dialogue cafés) were used to depict and record the views on and understanding of different stakeholders on the issue of animal health. The analysis revealed divergence in the understanding of animal health, unclear responsibilities and self-referential judgements as barriers in the process of knowledge transfer. In the face of these constraints, it is concluded that a targeted transfer of knowledge with respect to the issue of animal health is considerably compromised, requiring the creation of a framework which would provide the conditions for knowledge transfer. A common strategic goal, limiting the prevalence of production diseases, would help to bypass the current lack of a universally accepted definition of animal health. At the same time, this would function as a quality reference value in line with growing interest in animal welfare in livestock production.
Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Alexandra Bielecke; Albert Sundrum. Knowledge transfer regarding the issue of animal health. Organic Agriculture 2017, 8, 105 -120.
AMA StyleSusanne Hoischen-Taubner, Alexandra Bielecke, Albert Sundrum. Knowledge transfer regarding the issue of animal health. Organic Agriculture. 2017; 8 (2):105-120.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusanne Hoischen-Taubner; Alexandra Bielecke; Albert Sundrum. 2017. "Knowledge transfer regarding the issue of animal health." Organic Agriculture 8, no. 2: 105-120.
Während die traditionellen Pferdesportdisziplinen Dressur- und Springreiten Mitglieder verlieren, haben sich weitere Pferdesportarten in Deutschland etabliert und erfreuen sich wachsender Beliebtheit. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit den Hintergründen dieser Entwicklung. In einer empirischen Untersuchung wurden 1814 Reiter zu ihren Reitmotiven befragt. Mit Hilfe von Hauptkomponenten- und Clusteranalyse wurde eine Typologie gebildet, die ein differenziertes Bild der Motive verschiedener Reitergruppen ermöglicht. Während die leistungsorientierten Reiter eher in klassischen Reitsportdisziplinen vertreten sind, dominieren in moderneren Reitsportdisziplinen vor allem Genussmotive. Insgesamt entwickelt sich der Trend im Reitsport deutlich vom Drill in der Reitbahn hin zu mehr Entspannung, Erholung und Selbstverwirklichung. Der Wunsch, in der Freizeit Leistung zu bringen, sich mit anderen zu messen und Erfolg zu haben, ist nur noch für einen kleineren Teil der Pferdesportler bedeutsam. Aus der Verteilung der Motive ergeben sich neue Herausforderungen für den organisierten Reitsport, um den Spagat zwischen den Anforderungen der leistungsorientierten Sportreiter und den Erholungssuchenden zu meistern.
Claudia Gille; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Achim Spiller. Neue Reitsportmotive jenseits des klassischen Turniersports. Sportwissenschaft 2011, 41, 34 -43.
AMA StyleClaudia Gille, Susanne Hoischen-Taubner, Achim Spiller. Neue Reitsportmotive jenseits des klassischen Turniersports. Sportwissenschaft. 2011; 41 (1):34-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClaudia Gille; Susanne Hoischen-Taubner; Achim Spiller. 2011. "Neue Reitsportmotive jenseits des klassischen Turniersports." Sportwissenschaft 41, no. 1: 34-43.