In organic agriculture there is an a priori focus on aiming to keep livestock healthy, primarily by means of preventive measures. Animal health is dependent on many factors, such as the environment, feeding, husbandry, social behaviour in the herd or flock, and management and care by humans. Holistic animal health concepts take these factors into account. They are the basis of preventive herd health management, which is a focus of our research work.
In organic farming, sick animals should preferably receive complementary medical treatment, such as phytotherapy or homeopathy. Chemically-synthesised medicines, above all antibiotics, should be reduced to a minimum and only used in emergencies. In a variety of research projects we are working on (re-)activating the potential of medicinal plants, as phytotherapy holds great, but currently largely untapped potential for animal health.
A further research focus is on the control of parasites. Parasitic infections are among the most significant health problems of farm animals. As it is currently customary to deworm livestock with synthetic compounds on both organic and non-organic farms, we are working on the development and implementation of alternative control strategies. Moreover, we maintain a parasitology laboratory where we conduct lab tests as part of FiBL research projects and carry out parasitological diagnostic tests for FiBL projects and external clients.
Contact
Projects
Team
| Group Animal Health | ||
| Amsler-Kepalaite Zivile | Field trials, laboratory of livestock sciences | +41 (0)62 865-7259 |
| Beermann Anke | Mistletoe therapy, horses, podcast | +41(0)62 865-6369 |
| Biegel Ulrike | Mistletoe therapy, phytotherapy, dogs, cats | +41 (0)62 865-0407 |
| Clottu Ophélie | Mistletoe therapy, horses | +41 (0)62 865-7272 |
| Cvejic Sandra | Laboratory of Livestock Sciences, head of parasitology laboratory | +41 (0)62 865-6394 |
| Heckendorn Felix | President of FiBL France, endoparasites in ruminants | +41 (0)62 865-7293 |
| Leubin Markus | Technical assistance livestock sciences | +41 (0)79 392-3279 |
| Maeschli Ariane | Health of dairy cows, ruminants, complementary medicine | +41 (0)62 865-0428 |
| Maurer Veronika | Co-leader of the Group Animal Healthcoordination laboratory of livestock sciences, internal and external parasites | +41 (0)62 865-7257 |
| Nussbaum Anette | Laboratory of Livestock Sciences, deputy head of parasitology laboratory | +41 (0)62 865-0465 |
| Schlittenlacher Theresa | Ethno veterinary medicine, phytotherapy | +41 (0)62 510-5308 |
| Thüer Susann | Field trials, internal parasites in ruminants, laboratory of livestock sciences | +41 (0)62 865-0406 |
| Walkenhorst Michael | Member of the Management BoardCo-head of the Department of Livestock SciencesCo-leader of the Group Animal Healthpreventive medicine, medicinal plants, phytotherapy, ethnoveterinary medicine | +41 (0)62 865-7286 |
| Werne Steffen | Research and extension internal parasites in ruminants | +41 (0)62 865-0451 |