Parasite infestation and control in grazing animals

Prof Dr Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna (Free University of Berlin) spoke on the subject of parasite infestation and control in grazing animals. The main focus was on the occurrence, significance and control of selected parasites.

With regard to the treatment of parasite-infested animals, the speaker advised against the uncontrolled and regular use of broad-spectrum antiparasitics, as these promote resistance in many parasites. In addition, the excreted active ingredient residues can harm beneficial soil organisms or insects.

The expert's recommendation was to first determine the need for treatment through parasite monitoring. This can be achieved cost-effectively and conclusively by analysing collective samples from up to ten animals of the same age group. The results of the examination can then be used to derive a treatment recommendation together with the farm vet, thus avoiding unnecessary treatments.

Another approach to preventing resistance is the targeted, selective treatment of individual animals that are growing, based on their weight development.

Keyword ectoparasites: They can be controlled through hygiene and strategic insecticide use. As with endoparasites, frequent and untargeted use of insecticides is of little help, promotes resistance and harms beneficial organisms.

Protecting grazing animals against wolves

The wolf is a particularly emotive issue for all graziers. Elke Steinbach and Martin Holm spoke about the possibilities of building wolf-repellent fences, herd protection and the requirements for compensation payments.

Steinbach, who coordinates livestock protection at the LWK Lower Saxony, pointed out options that are financially subsidised, such as the purchase of fencing materials or livestock guarding dogs. However, the labour costs for erecting the fence or the follow-up costs for caring for the dog are not subsidised.

According to the livestock protection expert, electric wolf-repellent fences must have a minimum height of 90 cm and the distance to the ground should be a maximum of 20 cm. A minimum height of 120 cm is recommended for cattle, but is not mandatory.

If protection is provided mechanically (e.g. with knotted mesh), a height of 120 cm must be maintained and protection against undermining must be guaranteed. Fastening a so-called apron (ground-anchored fence mat) is one of three options for ensuring protection under the fence. Furthermore, species-specific differences must be taken into account.

In the case of horses, for example, highly visible materials must be used which can be recognised by the escaping animals in the event of panic. Game animals, on the other hand, require fence heights of at least 180cm.

At the end of her presentation, Elke Steinbach went into the requirements for receiving equitable benefits after a wolf attack. For example, the kill must be recorded by an official wolf consultant and officially determined by the Wolfsbüro (NLWKN) using a DNA sample.

Martin Holm went into the technical details of fence construction. A professionally erected pasture fence, e.g. measuring 100 x 100 metres, costs around €2,000, although the investment costs per hectare decrease with larger areas. The fence must be kept free of vegetation by trimming or using powerful fencing equipment that at least partially reduces the conductivity of surrounding grasses. Grasses conduct the electricity from the fence into the ground, causing the fence to lose its current strength and thus its protection.

Avoid stress during pasture slaughter

Gerd Kämmer, a farmer from Schleswig-Holstein, spoke about the slaughter of cattle on pasture. For grazing cattle, which are kept outdoors all year round, rounding up in unfamiliar surroundings or loading and transporting them is particularly stressful. This not only reduces their animal welfare, but possibly also the quality of the meat.

Gerd Kämmer reported that carrying out bullet shooting on the pasture was also a learning process for him with regard to how the animals can be stunned as safely and with as little stress as possible. The first step was to start shooting from a tractor in the pasture. The whole process now takes place in a specially designed shooting range with clearly defined and controllable conditions.

It is important to comply with many legal requirements. Pasture shooting is only permitted for killing cattle that are kept outdoors all year round. A certificate of competence (a hunting licence is not sufficient) and a shooting permit must be obtained beforehand. Before any planned killing, the shooting must be reported to the competent veterinary authority and the official veterinarian must carry out a live animal inspection. In addition, it must be possible to reach an authorised slaughterhouse within 60 minutes of the bleeding. The speaker recommended that interested parties should consult the veterinary office before investing.

Gerd Kämmer's use of weapons has also changed over the years as his experience has grown. In the beginning, he used hunting ammunition. He now uses a small-calibre rifle with a red dot sight. This combination has the advantage of causing serious and irreversible damage to the brain if the shot is fired frontally at the level of the brain, and the bullet remains in the brain cavity so that the flesh of the neck is not devalued by the bullet.

Once the animal has been stunned by the bullet, it is pulled up by the hind legs with a front loader and bled through a cut within 60 seconds. Finally, the gently killed animal is transported to the slaughterhouse in a hygienic transport vehicle.

At the end of the lecture, the speaker presented fully mobile slaughter plants in which the animals are first restrained and killed on site by the captive bolt and can then be slaughtered, cut up and processed immediately in the plant.

Gerd Kämmer has been marketing some of the food produced in his thriving farm shop since 2003, which has benefited once again from the coronavirus pandemic. For years, the farmer has seen an increasing interest in direct marketing from consumers.

Author: Alexandra Koch, Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture

published in Land & Forst (21.5.2021)