Vilka förhållanden är gynnsamma för mjölkkors naturliga beteenden - förekommer skillnader i djurhållningen vid konventionella respektive KRAV certifierade lantbruk?
The aim of this study was to investigate which elements that functioned in a positive way on the natural behaviors of dairy cattle among KRAV certificated and conventional farms. The study was based on reading of earlier research and completed by interviews with farmers, animal health inspectors and consumers. The results showed us that the KRAV certificated farms used only loose housing barns and that the cattle were allowed a pasturetime of five months, or more, in one year. Our interviews with the consumers confirmed that KRAV was a well known trademark. The conventional farms were more flexible in their choice of housing systems, and used both loose housing barns and barns with the cattle tethered. For those animals the pasturetime in one year were kept down to three to five months. During the interviews with the animal health inspectors it came to our knowledge that they valued elements as long pasturetime and loose housing barns to support the natural behaviors of the animals. These factors also stood well in line with our own conclusions about what would function in a positive way on the natural behaviors of dairy cattle. This was confirmed not only by interviews but also by earlier research. The KRAV certificated farms fulfilled the terms of long pasturetime and loose housing barns in a stronger way.