Organic Dairy Farming

Global demand for sustainably produced milk continues to grow, and New Zealand’s dairy farmers produce a product which is highly valued around the world. Low-input farming methods (including organic farming) are well-known for their environmental credentials, but the wellbeing of the animals on low-input farms is also critically important – to the animals, to the success of each farm, and to customers and consumers. Animal wellbeing is likely to be enhanced when there is regular engagement between a farm and their veterinarian. Low-input and organic farms tend to have less veterinary engagement for a variety of reasons – including farmers being unaware that veterinarians can provide value-add services beyond access to restricted veterinary medicines, and veterinarians lacking confidence in providing services to farms with less conventional management styles. This course will enhance the knowledge and skills of veterinarians to give them greater confidence in their delivery value-add services to their low-input and organic dairy farming clients.