Future sustainability of organic and low-input milk production: Challenges and solutions.

Workshop on 26-27 January 2016 at the Novotel Bristol City Centre, Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6HY, aimed at organic and grassland based dairy producers using a low-level of external inputs.

The Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying (SOLID) project hosted this workshop which is jointly organised and supported by ORC, OMSCO, Aberystwyth University and AHDB Dairy.

The conference, aimed at farmers, consultants, scientists, dairy processors and feed producers presented and debated the outcomes of the Sustainable Organic and Low- Input Dairying (SOLID) project, focusing on practical strategies to implement the findings of the project by farmers.

Speakers from project partners across the EU and other organisations introduced the challenges of low-input and organic milk production as well as reporting on project results in relation to breeding objectives, breed choice, forage utilisation and animal health. Farmers who were actively involved in the project presented their experiences.

Session Proceedings

Opening Plenary: The challenge of low-input and organic milk productionImproving cow healthUnderstanding breed choice and breedingNew research and practical experience of feeding dairy cowsWider impacts of organic and low-input milk productionSupporting organic & low-input dairy production in North West Europe: Panel discussionLessons from SOLID – Sustainability of organic/low-input dairy

SOLID workshops from Organic Producer’s Conference

• Forage production for improved animal performance
• Minerals: can they be too much of a good thing?
• More feed from our own resources
• Homoeopathy at Welly Level – unrecognised success
• Can tree planting on livestock farms lead to a net increase in productivity and profit?

View full programme, including abstracts and biographies here (1.1mb pdf file)