Animal Husbandry

The Animal Husbandry division develops strategies for improving livestock husbandry on organic holdings. For all livestock species, the combination of site-appropriate breeding, ethologically sound husbandry, efficient hygiene measures and preventive feeding strategies are of major importance. Focal areas are the development of measures to control parasites as well as breeding strategies that are in conformity with the organic ethos. Our strategies tackle issues at different levels: With dairy cows the focus is on sustainable breeding strategies for organic farming. In poultry keeping, housing systems and management are optimized with a view to ethological criteria as well as parasite burdens. In sheep and rabbits, parasite problems are addressed by way of bioactive feedstuffs.

Team

Publications

Publications of the division in the Organic Eprints Database

Research areas

Sustainable animal breeding
Animal welfare and environmental performance
Controlling ectoparasites
Controlling endoparasites in ruminants
Controlling endoparasites in nonruminants
Analysing the parasite infestation situation in animals in organic operations

Sustainable animal breeding

In terms of breeding goals, the priorities of organic agriculture are different than those of traditional agriculture: the health and fertility of the animals as well as product quality are at the top of the list. It is therefore necessary to develop breeding strategies that give priority to the pursuit of these goals. Furthermore, research is needed to determine which breeding animals fulfil these goals. Traditional breeding strategies do not always employ techniques that are compatible with the concepts and goals of ecological agriculture. As a consequence, there is a need for ongoing discussion of ethical aspects in connection with breeding strategies and reproduction techniques in organic production, as well as for the elaboration and communication of appropriate recommendations.

Contact: Anet Spenger Neff

> Projekt LowInputBreeds

A large-scale project which aims to improve animal health and product quality in European organic and ‘low input’ livestock production systems   began in 2009. The LowInputBreeds project unites 21 partners from Europe and further afield and will develop integrated breeding and management strategies to tackle the issue of improved animal health and food quality.  It will run until 2014 and is co-funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

• Contact: Veronika Maurer
• Project homepage: www.lowinputbreeds.org

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Animal welfare and environmental performance

Today’s society vehemently demands species-appropriate and environmentally-appropriate milk, meat and egg production. Organic production is playing an exemplary role in this area. Workable and ethically acceptable livestock management strategies are undergoing continuous development and new, environmentally sound livestock management systems are being researched and tested. Corresponding research and assessment methods are being developed and applied. Special priorities for research in this area include the transport and slaughter of farm animals, as well as reduction of stress and losses in meat quality. Additionally, we are conducting new research on rabbits, as they are a very interesting niche. Feeding, feed supplements, species-appropriate management programmes, prevention and treatment of coccidiosis, and meat quality are priorities. The results have important implications in terms of practical applications as well as development of new methods and insights in the areas of animal behaviour, species-appropriate livestock management, and human-animal relationships.
Contact: Anna Bieber

Controlling ectoparasites

Problems with insect and mite parasites are likely to increase in the future, as global warming creates more favourable living conditions for these pests. As a consequence, their importance as vectors of diseases (e.g., bluetongue) and as problems in animal protection and hygiene will also increase. Certain preventative measures against ectoparasites are known, but they are frequently insufficient to reduce infestations in farm animals to tolerable levels. The chemical-synthetic products still in widespread use therefore need to be replaced as quickly as possible with improved preventative measures and more effective natural products.
Contact: Veronika Maurer

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Controlling endoparasites in ruminants

Grazing animals are infected with worm parasites that need to be controlled for economical as well as animal welfare reasons. The current standard practice on both organic and conventional operations is to de-worm the animals with synthetic antihelminthics. Their use is not without problems (resistance, effect on soil organisms), however. In past years, diverse nondrug procedures (e.g., pasture management, bioactive forages, selection of resistant animals) have been developed and their efficacy has been confirmed. The goal for the coming years is to implement these strategies and in particular to exploit their additive effects. Special attention shall be paid to the profitability of new control strategies of this nature. These methods promise great strides for all livestock producers, regardless of production method and herd size.
Contact: Veronika Maurer

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Controlling endoparasites in nonruminants

Worm parasites and coccidia are one of the worst health problems in poultry, swine and rabbit production. In rabbit production, for example, the economic losses are enormous, and all producers struggle with major problems. Preventative approaches in nonruminants are less sophisticated and also less effective than in ruminants and horses. For these reasons, alternative treatments (such as phytotherapy) supplement preventative measures in these animal species.

Contact: Felix Heckendorn

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Analysing the parasite infestation situation in animals in organic operations

Organic operations face greater parasite problems, as on one hand the animals come into contact more often with parasites due to the compulsory access to pastures and runs, and on the other hand because prophylactic medication is not allowed. A targeted implementation of antiparasite treatments is possible with the help of a situation analysis on the farm level. Considerable reduction in the number of treatments can often be achieved this way, without compromising the health of the animals.
Contact: Veronika Maurer

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