Organic Milk Production: Why and How The term organic signifies food or farming methods practicing without

using artificial chemicals i.e. something natural and inherently good. Organic farming encompasses a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem, health including biodiversity, biological and soil biological activity (FAO/WHO Codex Ailmentarius Commission Guidelines, 1999). It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain or enhance ecological harmony (National Organic Standard Board of USDA). Organic milk is the milk that comes from cows whose milk production was not prompted by an artificial growth hormone, whose feed was not grown with pesticides and which had access to pasture. As per FAO (2008) global market for organic products is 38.6billion USD and about 130 countries are practicing organic agriculture. It is growing @ 15-20% per annum. Globally the area under organic agriculture is 30.4 m ha. In USA organic milk constitutes 3 % of total milk production and growing rapidly @ 25 % per annum. In India, area under organic certification process is 8. 65 lakh ha ( Yadav, 2008). As per National Progarmmes for Organic Production (2006), there are 11 accredited certification bodies, 5147 certified farms and 35 number of products that are exported. The market demand for organic dairy products is next to fruits and vegetables. Why Organic Milk? Safety of products, no fear of disease incidence(BSE, FMD), environment friendly approach, free from use of chemicals like antibiotics(rBST), fertilizers, pesticides, health consciousness etc are some or the reasons as to why organic animal husbandary is being given so much emphasis. Indian situation favours organic dairy husbandary because of existence of mixed farming systems, hardly and disease resistant native dairy breeds, a significant area which could be easily converted to organic one, cheap and easily available labour, rained agriculture, urbanization, health consciousness etc. Conventional Vs organic milk Feed for organic cows have to be grown without pesticides, Cows are fed on forage rich diets and tends to be healthier. It is mandatory for USDA organic labeled milk to come from cows which have not been treated with rBST to increase milk yield. The cows must have access to pastures. Compared to conventional or regular milch herd, there is 10-15% reduction in milk yield in organic herd. The consumption of concentrate and use of veterinary medicines is drastically reduced in organic animals. No differences have been observed between the two groups with regard to reproductive performance (number of days open, calving interval, AI per cow). In case of organic herd, lower incidences of diseases (metabolic disorders (mastitis,

retained placenta, milk fever, and ketosis) have been reported. The milk also showed lower somatic cell count and almost nil antibiotic residues. Eutrofication potential per tone of milk or per ha of farm land was lower for organic than for conventional milk production due to lower fertilizer application rate. Organic milk production reduces pesticide use and increases land use per ton of milk. Organic milk production increases methane emission and therefore can reduce global warming potential by reducing emission of CO2 and nitrous oxide considerably. Organic milk has several nutritional benefits over regular or conventional milk. Organic milk is 50% higher in a-tocopherol and 75% higher in -carotene compared to non-organic cow milk as shown by research work carried out in Danish Institute of Agricultural Science and University of Newcastle(Nielson and Lund-Nielson,2005).Organic milk also contains higher level of omega-3 fatty acids. University of Liverpool showed that organic milk contains 68% more omega-3 fatty acids. Their deficiency has been the major cause of various health problems such as heart diseases, inflammations, cancer, arthritis etc. -carotene is useful for strong eyesight, and greater resistance to infections, good skin, bone growth, tooth development, reproduction and gene expression.a-tocopherol counters the harm caused by free radicals. Higher levels of antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin have also been found in milk from cows that eat grass based diets. Researchers have revealed that organic milk, cheese and yoghurt might protect young kids against asthma and eczema. In Italy, Bergamo et al. (2003), reported significantly higher essential fatty acids, Vitamin E in organic buffalo milk and mozrella cheese. Organic cow milk contained 46% higher Vitamin E and 60%$ more -carotene. Organic milk has five times CLA contents than regular milk. CLA promotes metabolic rate, immunity to diseases and growth rate and at the same time bring down abdormenal fat, cholesterol and allergic reactions. It is beneficial in cancer treatment, Organic cheese contains 91% more CLA. Palmetic acid which increases cholesterol content in humans was reduced by feeding alfa alfa and red clover silage compared to grass silage feeding. How to go for organic milk production? Certification The farm should be registered with an organic certification body and the production system adopted should meet the organic standards specified for producing organic milk. There are set of standards with each certification body and it is important to ensure that the system adopted complies with the requirements of organic body that you have chosen. Organic certification is not a product certification but it is a process certification. There are five main organic certification standards in the world which have wider acceptance. These are EU regulations, organic food products act of USA, draft guidelines of Codex/WHO /FAO, UK register of organic food standards (UKROFS), international federation of organic agriculture Movements

(IFOAM) basic standards. Government of India has developed National Standards for Organic Production (NSOP). These standards are published under national progaramme for organic production (NPOP, 2002)by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority(APEDA). Following are the accredited agencies for certification in India: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. BVQI (India ) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai Ecosert SA, Aurangabad IMO Control Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore Indian Organic Certification Agency(INDOCERT),Cochin International Resources for Fairer Trade(IRFT), Mumbai Lacon Quality Certification Pvt. Ltd, Thiruvalla Natural Organic Certification Association(NOCA), Pune OneCert Asia Agri certification Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur SGs Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon Skal International, Bangalore Uttaranchal state Organic Certification Agency(USOCA), Dehradun

Conversion of Land from conventional to organic status Planning for conversion from conventional/ regular to organic production is an important aspect. Whole farm may be converted in one go conversion may be phased over a no. of years which required closer attention to ensure that milk sold will achieve organic status at the earliest. A minimum of two years are needed to convert the land to organic status. It is possible to produce organic milk on the day on which land attains full organic status. For this, organic management of herd must have started 9 months and feeding six months before organic milk production is intended. Source of animal stock Purchased must come from herds which did not have a case of BSE in the previous six years. When a farm is converted to organic production, the existing livestock can be retained but can never be sold as organic themselves. However, milk from these cows and their progency can be sold as organic following the required conversion periods. Although producers are encouraged to rear their own replacements or to buy from other organic farms, up to % of breeding herd can be replaced each year from conventional herds with a no. of criteria. The minimum weaning age for calves is weeks. During this feeding period whole organic milk should form at least 5% of the overall ration, so milk feeding can be reduced to zero by the end of 12 weeks. Where surplus calves are not being reared and finished on dairy farm they may be sold to other organic or conventional producers.

Stock bulls can be purchased from conventional farms or hired bulls can be provided they are managed to organic standards when they come on to organic farm. AI is permitted. The sale of organic stock through livestock mart is not generally permitted, though the purchase of pedigree stock and rare breeds is permitted. Consequently, farm to farm trading will become a necessary part of marketing stock. Feeding of the animals IDEALLY, ALL THE FEEDSTUFFS TO BE USED SHOULD BE PRODUCED ON THE FARM AND CERTIFIED AS ORGANIC. Maximum use should be made of grazing. At least 6% of the feed should be obtained from the farm or from linked organic farms. Up to % of the feed may come from in-conversion sources. Where it is produced on the holding on which it will be used, up to 6% of the feed may be in-conversion. The balance of ration should meet organic standards. It is also pertinent that organic forages should make at least 6% of the diet. Both the pasture grazed and forage conserved for winter feeding will normally be produced at the farm. Where home produced organic cereals are available, they will form the basis of concentrate mixture. Organic concentrate can be purchased. Compound rations should 00% organic. Protein sources may be difficult to produce at the farm and may be purchased. Mineral supplementation is only permitted where trace element requirement can not be met by practices of dairy husbandary. Some synthetic vitamins may be used subjected to permission by the certification body. Molasses, bacterial inoculants and enzyme preparations may be used as silage additives. Molasses must be organically produced. Fodder production and grassland management Clover based swards are crucial as nitrogen source. Clover is required to sustain good levels of productivity. Maintaining soil fertility depends on appropriate rotations, alternating silage and grazing ground were possible and careful allocation of recycled manures and slurry. Artificial fertilizers are not permitted but lime and other natural sources of nutrients can be used. For manuring, a total quantity of nitrogen applied on farm may not exceed 170 Kg N/ha/year including that produced by the stock on farm. Manures may be brought from other farms. Poultry litter from registered organic farms may be used. Permission may be sought to use manure produced at conventional farms. However, the animals from which it is produced must be kept in extensive husbandary systems that satisfy the organic certification body, and the rations fed to stock must be free from GMOs. If there is surplus manure or slurry on an organic farm, it must go to other organic farms only.

Housing: Housing requirement could differ between certification bodies. Stock must be provided with a comfortable, dry bedding area & loose housing which is well bedded is preferred. Dairy cows should be allowed a minimum of 6cm2 per animal and for young stock space requirement range from 1.0 to 1.75 m2 per 100 kg live weight. A free access to open yard area is always desirable. Animal Health: When starting conversion, all cohorts and progeny of BSE cases must be removed from the herd. A detailed plan regarding how the production system will be developed to promote good health & become less independent on veterinary medicine, must be drawn up. Preventive management is always encouraged but any problems must always be dealt with promptly. The use of homeopathic medicines is encouraged. Veterinary medicines and antibiotics must not be used as preventive medicines. The withdrawl period for veterinary medicines mustt be at least twice the stated withdrawl period. Where the withdrawl period is nil or 24 hours, the withdrawl period will be 48 hours. Good management practices including tip dipping and culling cows with higher cell counts help in controlling mastisis. Worm control should be achieved through careful grazing management practices to minimize exposure to infection. Some anthelmintics may be used as a part of control programme which has been agreed with the certification body, and to treat animals where clinical symptoms occur. Vaccination is permitted, under derogation, in cases where there is a known disease risk. Where an animal or group of animals receive more than three courses of treatment within one year, they lose their organic status, with the exception of vaccination, treatment for parasites and any compulsory eradication schemes. If organophosphorous products are used, the animals lose their organic status forever. Recording of all veterinary medicines is essential. Selling Of Milk & Parlour Hygiene: To get premium prices for organic milk, it is necessary to sell milk through an organically registered processing outlet. Marketing should always be considered before starting production. Approved sterilants may be used in milking parlours and dairies. Organic milk production in India is in infancy stage. However, the differences in milk composition between conventional and organic milk as revealed earlier are enough to convince more customers to go for organic milk and even pay a little more.