The Organic Imperative in Latvian Dairy

Organic dairy farming in Latvia is based on objectives that are largely consistent with those of traditional agriculture: promoting environmental protection, ensuring high animal welfare standards, and achieving economic profitability. The most significant variable in these farms is the substantial seasonal changes in feeding protocols dictated by the transition from summer grazing to winter housing. This article analyzes these seasonal differences and their direct impact on important milk production indicators, including yield, fat and protein content. By understanding these dynamics, farmers can better navigate the complexities of organic production and optimize their operations for year-round success.

The Regulatory Framework: Defining the Boundaries of Organic Feeding

A thorough understanding of the regulatory landscape is of paramount strategic importance for any organic dairy operation. These rules are not mere guidelines but foundational constraints that directly shape every aspect of herd nutrition, farm economics, and management philosophy. As stipulated by EU Regulation 2018/848, the primary constraints governing organic livestock feed create a system that prioritizes farm-grown forage and places strict limits on external inputs.

Key regulatory requirements include:

• Roughage Requirement: A minimum of 60% of the daily feed ration’s dry matter must consist of roughage, such as pasture grass, hay, or silage. An exception is made for cows in early lactation, where this minimum can be reduced to 50% for up to three months post-calving to help mitigate the risk of acidosis.

• Feed Sourcing: At least 60% of all feed must be produced on the farm itself or sourced from other certified organic farms within the same region. This mandate encourages local self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on long-distance supply chains.

• Ingredient Purity: With the exception of molasses, all feed components must be organically produced or sourced from a list of approved ingredients. This ensures the integrity of the organic production cycle from field to feed trough.

• Supplement Restrictions: The use of supplements is severely limited. Protein sources are primarily restricted to beans and peas, which can only be fed in amounts of 2-2.5 kg per day. This contrasts sharply with conventional farms, which have ready access to high-protein feeds like rapeseed meal. Furthermore, molasses, a key energy source, is restricted to just 1% of the total dry matter of the daily ration. These limitations often necessitate the use of expensive pelleted feed, which is a common solution on farms with robotic milking systems where granules are ideal for automated in-robot feeding.

These regulations have a direct and significant impact on farm management, placing immense pressure on the quality of farm-produced roughage. Because the ability to purchase external organic protein and energy sources is either restricted or prohibitively expensive, the nutritional value of homegrown grass, hay, and silage becomes the central pillar of the entire feeding strategy. This regulatory context directly informs how farms approach the distinct challenges and opportunities of the summer grazing season.

Summer Strategy: Maximizing Pasture Potential

The summer grazing period represents a key opportunity for organic dairy farms to provide cost-effective, high-quality nutrition. However, its success is not guaranteed; it is entirely

dependent on meticulous pasture management. A primary determinant of performance is the grazing system itself. While highly efficient rotational grazing offers the best outcomes, the common practice in Latvia involves continuous grazing in large, unproductive paddocks, which significantly undermines nutritional potential.

The performance difference between these systems is stark and measurable:

• Data shows that sward utilization efficiency can be as high as 80% on the first day a herd enters a new paddock, but this figure can plummet to 60% after just one week of continuous grazing.

• Research highlights a crucial behavioral impact: cows on frequently rotated pastures spend less time grazing to achieve satiety and consequently more time resting and ruminating—the physiological state in which milk is produced (Farell, Glassey et al., 2024).

Well-managed pasture is very rich in nutrients. Cows can consume up to 17 kg of dry matter, which provides enough energy to produce 20 kg of milk and enough protein to produce 30 kg of milk. Poorly managed pasture, on the other hand, may not provide enough nutrients to produce even 10 kg of milk at the end of summer (Gluha, Freimane, 2025). Typical summer feed is based on pasture mixtures dominated by red clover, white clover, ryegrass, and timothy. This is supplemented with concentrates such as wheat and oats, as well as essential minerals with higher magnesium content to prevent grass tetany. This dependence on high-quality pasture contrasts sharply with the different approach and challenges required during the winter period when animals are kept indoors.

Winter Strategy: The Science of Conserved Forage

The winter housing period serves as a critical test of a farm’s ability to harvest and preserve the nutritional value captured during the summer months. Success in winter feeding is directly and inextricably linked to the quality of the conserved roughage, primarily silage and hay. To move beyond assumption-based feeding, a data-driven approach is essential. To ensure high-quality feeding, it is imperative to conduct laboratory analysis of all prepared hay and silage. Only with this data can a farmer accurately formulate balanced rations. The quality of grass silage itself is determined by a combination of critical factors, including the selection of appropriate grass seed mixes, achieving the correct dry matter content at harvest, timely cutting at the optimal growth stage, and employing proper harvesting technology.

The primary nutritional challenge for organic farms during the winter is achieving optimal protein and fat levels in the ration. The options for protein supplementation are limited to beans and peas, while sourcing organic fat supplements like rapeseed or sunflower meal is difficult and expensive. To address the energy deficit, corn silage has emerged as a strategic solution. Its high digestibility (over 70%) provides a powerful energy boost, improves the overall digestibility of the ration, and can potentially reduce the amount of grain-based concentrates needed.

The potential of this approach is exemplified by the Swiss “Feed no food” project. In this study, participating organic farms achieved an average 24% reduction in concentrate use with only a minor 0.5% decrease in milk yield. This remarkable efficiency was attributed to one central factor: the use of excellent quality roughage. This principle—that high-quality forage is the key to reducing costs without sacrificing production—is the cornerstone of a successful winter strategy and is clearly reflected in the performance data from Latvian farms.

Comparison of farms belonging to the organic dairy farming hub

In order to assess the differences in feeding dairy cows in summer and winter on organic farms, 10 farms were surveyed. Data on animal feeding was collected, and farm milk monitoring data for 2025 was reviewed, selecting the milk monitoring results for March as the reference month for the winter period and July for the summer.

Seasonal Differences in Dairy Performance

Milk monitoring data from March and July show clear seasonal effects on dairy cow performance and the influence of feeding strategies. In winter, Energy Corrected Milk (ECM) yields varied widely between farms, ranging from 16.2 kg to 25.8 kg, reflecting differences in conserved forage quality and ration design. Elevated milk fat levels of up to 5.1% on some farms suggested energy deficits, while farms using more advanced feeding systems, such as partial mixed rations combined with corn silage, achieved the highest winter yields.

During the grazing season, milk production increased and became more consistent across farms. Average ECM yields rose to a range of 17.8 kg to 28.9 kg, with several farms exceeding 25 kg ECM. At the same time, milk fat and protein levels showed smaller fluctuations, indicating that well-managed pasture provided a more balanced and stable nutritional supply than winter forage. Overall, the results highlight the need for optimized winter feeding strategies and confirm the strong contribution of high-quality grazing to productivity and milk composition.

Analysis of Forage Efficiency

“Milk from forage” is a key indicator of feed efficiency, measuring the share of total milk yield produced from roughage alone. The commonly accepted target is 40–45%, yet a 2023 UK benchmark reported an average of 33%, while top-performing farms reached around 50%. Data from the Latvian Organic Climate Net hub farms revealed an even wider range, with milk from forage varying from 15.7% to 86.1%, highlighting substantial differences in forage utilization and feeding strategies.

As expected, the proportion of milk produced from forage increased markedly during the summer grazing period, with several farms exceeding 70%. Overall, the results show that well-managed grazing systems can significantly improve feed efficiency, while consistent year-round feeding strategies help reduce seasonal fluctuations in milk production and concentrate use.

Conclusions

The findings show that profitable and sustainable organic dairy farming relies on a clear seasonal feeding strategy. Maximising pasture use, improving forage quality for winter, and balancing energy and fat supply are key to maintaining productivity. Data-driven nutrition management, aligned with organic principles, is essential for building resilient and economically viable farms.