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ProPara - Tackling the parasitological challenges in organic ruminant farming practices
Project
Project code: 2814OE001
Contract period: 01.03.2015
- 28.02.2018
Budget: 152,050 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
By grass feeding, which is prescribed in organic farms, animals of these farms are particularly at risk of becoming infected with internal parasites. Especially the infection with liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is an economically significant and widespread parasitosis, impairing animal health. As against F. hepatica no completely protective immune response is established, a dairy cow with regular reinfection suffers from the disease throughout its productive life.
Whether besides grass feeding or grazing other factors promote the transmission of liver fluke in organic dairy herds (such as sharing pastures with other ruminants, which is possibly more often the case on organic farms than on conventional farms) is unknown. In addition, medical treatments on organic farms is limited due to longer withdrawal periods for instance.
Organic farms must therefore aim at reducing anthelmintic treatment and combine them with measures such as pasture management.
The project presented here has three aims:
1. Identify the prevalence of liver fluke in organic dairy herds in Bavaria
2. Determination of risk factors for the transmission of F. hepatica in organic dairy herds for optimized control
3. Development of an application for mobile devices for the control of fasciolosis: based on the decision tree of Knubben-Schweizer et al. (2011, 2014) an application for electronic devices is developed
The working plan is as follows:
- Part 1 (prevalence): From 600 ecologically-producing dairy farms in Bavaria bulk milk samples are surveyed for Fasciola hepatica antibodies
- Part 2 (risk factors): On 20 organic dairy farms and 20 conventional dairy farms a questionnaire on the management is conducted. From this, possible risk factors fort he transmission of liver fluke in organic dairy herds are to be ideintified
- Part 3 (application for electronic devices): The existing decision tree of Knubben-Schweizer et al. (2011) is to be created as an application for electronic devices. For this purpose, the open source software 'Phone GAP' is used, which enables the implementation of the app on different mobile devices. The first version of the app is to be tested and evaluated in the field by 20 organic dairy farmers. Another 20 organic dairy farmers will be instructed in the paper form of the decision tree. After a year, the two groups are compared among each other and the final version of the application for electronic devices is established.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
