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  • Title: [Ecological animal husbandry--main developmental points for production and marketing as in the example of the Bioland Association].
    Author: Schumacher U.
    Journal: Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr; 1998 Aug; 105(8):301-6. PubMed ID: 9763732.
    Abstract:
    The data from Bioland are presented as an example of the development in ecological animal husbandry. Dairy cows (29.000 in 1000 dairy farms) are typical in organic farming. In the past 4 years there has been an annual increase in dairy farming of about 6.5%. The increase is even higher in suckled cows and laying hens (both 23% annually), or apiculture. Pigs have been of minor importance, but are gaining more interest recently. In each category the number of animals is growing faster than the number of farms. In ecological husbandry, specialisation of personnel has to go hand in hand with improvements in keeping, feeding, hygiene, health of animals, integration of farming and stock breeding and documentation to cope with the demands of the market. The standard aimed for is dictated by the actual current state of knowledge in the ecological and ethological sciences. There are various possibilities for consultations and there are regional groups of specialists to provide know-how to the farmers. Ecologically produced goods are economically undersubsidised compared to conventionally produced ones. However, the development of the market is correlated with the production. The number of butcher's and dairies that have contracts with ecological associations has clearly been increasing lately. A high percentage of the raw products as well as food processed on the farm is sold directly by the farmers, however, there is a slow trend towards the retail trade. Various possibilities of improving the market are discussed. Ecological husbandry offers especially good conditions to farmers with high activity in marketing. The system of control is developing steadily according to the increasing demands in quality of production and products. As a result of good cooperation between farmers, control institutions and Bioland, practical solutions can be found to most problems. A list of high priority future work, investigation and development is given. All costs that arise during production and processing have to be internalised to widely realise ecological farming especially animal production in favour of environmental protection. Furthermore, farmers need an intensive education in agrarian ecology.
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