The Rural Voice, 2005-05, Page 27producers cull, it turned out fertility
was the leading factor for both
groups. Organic producers chose
mastitis as the second biggest reason
and foot problems as the third.
Conventional producers chose milk
production and mastitis as the second
and third biggest reasons,
respectively.
Asked where they wanted to
improve their herd, the
organic farmers prioritized
feet and udders and there was a
considerable amount of interest in
grazing traits. Capacity, milk and
protein received a moderate ranking.
Mastitis, persistence, longevity,
calving ease received a slightly lower
ranking. Milk production was at the
bottom of the list.
Martin de Groot and Ineke Booy
have 65 -head milking herd and
operate Mapleton's Organic. They
produce yogurt, frozen yogurt and ice
cream using their own milk.
Paolo Rozzi received her PhD at
the University of Guelph on animal
breeding for dairy. She received her
Agriculture Degree at the University
of Milan, Italy, and has worked in
Italy, Germany and Canada.0
Organic dairy
numbers rising
There were only 45 organic dairy
farms in Ontario when Dr. Paoli
Rozzi conducted her survey in
2003. That's changing.
"We have some indication that
this is a fast-growing sector.
There's another 60 dairy farms in
transition (to organic agriculture),"
Rozzi says.
Currently, the 45 organic dairy
farmers represent about one per
cent of Ontario's total. They
produce about 0.4 per cent of the
milk.
"We can see it growing at least
10 times from where it's at now,"
looking at the European example.
The organic dairy industry is
much larger in Europe, she
explains. In Germany and Italy, for
instance, there are thousands of
organic dairy farms.
There's also added incentive to
convert to organic production in
Europe. Austria and Germany, for
example, offer subsidies, Rozzi
says.0
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