Data from cows in low input (LI) and very low input (VLI) mountain dairy systems

The dataset contains production, reproduction and health data from high yielding cows (Holstein and Montbeliarde) reared in either a Very-Low-Input system (no concentrates except for veal calves) or a Low-Input system (less concentrates and mineral fertilisers than conventional systems while safeguarding milk production and nitrogen balance of the land) with a short mating season in spring to align the milk and the grass production curves (24 cows/system for 5 years). Reproductive management included artificial insemination, the use of a bull at the end of the mating season, the use of sexed semen for heifers, and extended lactations for some non-pregnant cows. The dataset provides references for the production and the sustainability of such low input dairy systems.