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More than a niche? The potential of dam rearing for marketing of milk and male calves (Milk & Calf)
Project
Project code: 2815NA094
Contract period: 01.01.2018
- 31.03.2020
Budget: 129,125 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Consumers as well as animal rights organisations criticise repeatedly the early separation of cow in calf in modern dairy farming. Meanwhile, some dairy farms rear their calves by suckling at dam or foster cows, and studies address the effects of cow-calf contact on animal health and performance. However, until now information is lacking how milk and calves, which are produced in such systems, are market. Thus, the project aims to reveal the status quo of production and marketing of milk and calves from dam rearing systems and to gain information concerning the acceptance as well as the refusal of such products along the whole processing and market chain. At the end, ideas of marketing strategies shall be developed which will be transferred to the stakeholders of the value chain. The opinions of all stakeholders (farmers, processors, food retailers and consumers) on dam rearing are in focus of the project. Whether farmers use dam rearing as an argument in product marketing is still not well known. The amount of deliverable or processible milk is reduced by this rearing system. Therefore, farmers have to gain higher prizes for their products, like milk or calves for fattening, to be profitably. This issue will be addressed at first in the project. If possible, all German dairy farmers practicing dam rearing will be included. Afterwards, the awareness of dam rearing in dairies, cattle dealers and fattening farms will be inquired. Finally, retailers and consumers will be surveyed.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
