Knowledge deployment
Latest research results, successfully implemented
For all those who bear responsibility in the field of animal husbandry, parasite infestation is a constant challenge. In grazing animals, gastrointestinal worms are the main concern from an animal health point of view. Inadequate control can result in serious illness and even death. Carefully planned and implemented parasite management is therefore of major importance. Parasite-free grazing animals are unthinkable in practice - but the good news is that not every parasite detection is worrying and cause for deworming, as healthy animals can live very well with a moderate infestation and this confrontation can even have positive effects on the immune system. Two projects are used to present how parasite management is carried out in a progressive manner at Gut Aiderbichl for horses, donkeys, sheep and goats.
Parasite monitoring in equidae
Basis/starting point:Parasite infestations are a constant challenge in animals. In horses, donkeys and mules, gastrointestinal worms are the primary concern from an animal health perspective. Inadequate control can lead to severe disease and even death. Parasite management of all equids at Gut Aiderbichl is therefore very important. A parasite infestation can be diagnosed by means of a fecal examination, but not every parasite detection is a cause for concern and a reason for deworming. Healthy animals can live very well with a moderate infestation and this confrontation can even have positive effects on the immune system. Until 2019, parasite control of equids at Gut Aiderbichl was carried out at most locations by regular deworming at three or four points in the season.
Target:Against the backdrop of a worsening problem caused by resistant parasites worldwide, a gradual realignment of parasite management for GA's equids has been initiated starting in 2020. With the introduction of a selective deworming concept based on the Swiss model, the goal is to deworm equids in the future only as needed based on a prior fecal examination. The aim is to reduce the use of medication in order to avoid unnecessary stress on the animals and to protect their environment as a result of excreted medication residues. The still necessary deworming of horses with an increased parasite egg excretion prevents a further contamination of the pasture areas if carried out quickly and thus reduces subsequent infections of other horses.
New findings:In the first year of monitoring (2020), only about 20% of the nearly 1000 fecal examinations conducted at the initial six sites resulted in a finding that required deworming. Based on this, a further reduction in the deworming rate of 22% was recorded at the same sites in the subsequent year. This is already a first indication of the considerable potential of monitoring to reduce treatment intensity in the future.
Outlook: Since equine parasitological monitoring is an "open end" project, there will be new findings every year. Continuous evaluation and, if necessary, optimization of the monitoring are essential and ensure a continuous development. The latest findings and developments can then be read here.
Publication: Leben Lieben Magazine - Spring 2022
Project management: PD Dr Hubertus Hertzberg
Parasite monitoring in small ruminants.
Basis/starting point:Gastrointestinal worm infestation is one of the major problem areas in sheep and goats from an animal health point of view. Sheep and goats develop only a very weak immunity against the parasites, so that not only the young animals but also the adult animals can become ill and must therefore be included in the control measures. Parasite management is therefore very important. Fecal examinations offer a very good possibility to diagnose the extent of parasite egg excretion in the individual animal. A low grade infestation can be well tolerated by a healthy animal. At the GA sites where increased parasite contact for sheep and goats is to be expected as a result of more extensive grazing contact, diagnosis-based parasite management has been implemented since 2021, which also includes the South American camelids and dromedaries at the main Henndorf farm.
Target: The resistance problem in gastrointestinal worms, which is progressing rapidly worldwide, makes it necessary to reorientate the parasite management of small ruminants. For the animals housed at Gut Aiderbichl, a change from routine treatments to a needs-based control program is to be implemented in the medium term. Prompt implementation and subsequent inspection of the treatments will counteract further contamination of the green areas with parasite stages and reduce subsequent infections of other animals. The aim of reducing the use of medicines is intended to avoid unnecessary stress on the animals and to protect their environment as a result of excreted active ingredient residues.
New findings: Experience to date - which is currently still limited - shows that the parasitological burden of individual sheep and goats can vary greatly, even within a group, and that a targeted selection of animals worthy of treatment would therefore be desirable with a view to reducing the use of medication. This also in view of the first observations, which indicate considerable limitations in the effectiveness of the dewormers used at individual locations.
Outlook: The experience gained at previous sites provides the basis for expanding parasitological monitoring to additional sites.
Project Management: PD Dr. Hubertus Hertzberg
Sandgrueb Foundation Rehabilitation Station for Equines
Basis/Starting point: Equines with severe diseases pose emotional, financial and medical problems for animal owners, especially when there are diseases for which no established therapy is available. The diseases also frequently affect old horses, which in turn means that they are abandoned more often or leads to situations that are relevant to animal welfare. Unfortunately, this often results in owners being overtaxed, which may lead to neglect, abandonement or even death of the animals.
On behalf of Gut Aiderbichl, the Sandgrueb Foundation takes care of these animals. In the rehabilitation station in Egg near Zurich, efforts are being made to alleviate the underlying suffering. However, this is a very difficult task due to the often missing therapy options. In cooperation with the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich and Vetmeduni Vienna, intensive work is being done to continuously improve the quality of life of the rescued animals and to develop effective therapies.
The diseases to be treated can be very diverse, however, some stand out both by frequency and impact on quality of life, namely chronic lameness, sarcoids and other tumors (e.g. melanomas), hoof cancer, recurrent hoof abscesses, chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) of cold-blooded horses, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), equine Cushing's disease, laminitis, dental disease, to name a few.
Objective: The rehab center focuses on a holistic approach to therapy. In addition to physical healing, the emotional well-being of the horses is also important. Loving care and attention, as well as a warm approach to the horses, where a lot of time is taken for each patient, is essential. Healing is based on a combination of a healthy psyche, veterinary treatment, balanced feed and exercise. Contact with conspecifics is also particularly important.
The aim is to treat diseases successfully and in a targeted manner, developing new treatment methods especially in areas where no therapies are established. Another focus is on palliative therapy tailored to the individual patient to improve the quality of life of terminally ill animals.
Suffering horses with difficult to treat problems that require intensive care receive continuous, veterinary care and attention in the rehabilitation ward.
Intensive work is being done on the development of easy-to-apply therapy approaches, because effective and easy-to-implement treatment options must be found quickly for the well of over 700 horses at Gut Aiderbichl. Furthermore, the knowledge gained here can be extended to a broader public in the further course of time, in order to raise awareness of diseases, e.g. of aging and chronically ill horses, and thus to enable an earlier start of therapy - so that suffering either does not arise in the first place or can be reduced at an early stage.
New findings: In addition to conventional medicine, the rehab center also relies on alternative but medically sound treatment methods.
Great successes have been achieved so far with the Vetdrop® treatment. The treatment involves the application of concentrated oxygen enriched with natural and pharmaceutical substances (e.g. urea, hyaluronic acid, essential oils) and allows this mixture to penetrate into deeper tissue layers. It can be used to treat painful arthritis or tendon injuries, as well as inflammation or acute or chronic wounds.
The team achieved very good treatment results with the disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effect of a disinfecting solution (Xeron®) based on a highly effective hypochlorous acid (HOCL). This is acidic or neutral water with a pH of 4.7, respectively 7.0. The water acts by oxidation against viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is successfully used for the treatment of acute and chronically infected wounds, in the form of gating dressings for phlegmons and deep skin infections, mallenders, thrush and much more.
Outlook: In cooperation with Gut Aiderbichl, the rehabilitation station can be a center for further education in order to train Gut Aiderbichl employees and familiarize them with the new treatment methods. Furthermore, the rehabilitation station represents a center for medical care for Gut Aiderbichl's horses that are particularly seriously ill and require intensive treatment.
Project management: Dr.med.vet. Karina Klein, DVM-PhD, Animal Hospital Zurich
Natural husbandry is the most species-appropriate way of life for animals. At the same time, it is sustainable and offers the greatest opportunities to preserve biodiversity. Horses that spend day and night in the pasture arrange their daily routine quite differently than in husbandry systems controlled by humans. Healthy forage is always available in the wild, allowing horses to avoid inclement weather and insect infestations. Unfortunately, many equids today cannot live freely on pasture because they are threatened by diseases of affluence. For this reason, various projects at Gut Aiderbichl are concerned with the composition of the forage grass areas, their optimization through suitable seeds and with the quality of the hay produced from them. The forage areas are the basis for natural husbandry and thus for the mental and physical health of the animals.
Composting
Basis/starting point: On average, a horse produces between 20 and 30 kg of manure per day, which is equivalent to about 7 to 10 tons or 20 to 30 m³ per year. These are large amounts of manure that a barn must manage. This manure contains large amounts of nutrients that, if properly managed, can close the metabolic cycle. However, it can also contain pathogens, parasites or weeds that you do not want to spread. Therefore, an appropriate and economically justifiable enhancement of the manure should be considered.
Objective: The goal of this project is to establish an optimized composting system at Gut Aiderbichl for the treatment of horse manure. A quality concept ranging from the collection of the manure to the management of the process itself and the use of the compost produced will accompany this project. A three-fold reduction in volume can already be observed during the composting process. Thus, the produced compost can be stored and used for meadows at the ideal times. Moreover, during the composting process, a natural "sanitization" effect of the manure is obtained, as the temperature of the material reaches up to 65°C. Compost that is not needed must be of perfect quality to be put on the market, especially for hobby gardeners. To achieve this goal, Gut Aiderbichl employees are trained in composting.
New findings: Field edge composting is used to treat the manure. It will be optimized for the different situations on the selected Gut Aiderbichl farms, depending on the type of litter and the organic by-products available. In parallel, a study on the inactivation of pathogens, parasites and weeds can be carried out during the composting process.
Outlook: Based on the results obtained during the project, a guideline will be developed to serve as a basis for implementation on other farms. This guideline will address not only the management of the composting process itself, but also the use of the quality compost produced. An economic evaluation of the concept will complete this project.
Project Management: Dr. Jacques Fuchs, FiBL Switzerland
Grassland
Basis/starting point: The most important grass for the economy in Europe is German pasture grass. It is found in standard seed mixtures for horse pastures and horse hay meadows. It is of particular importance in dairy farming because it is high in energy and protein. Horses and donkeys, however, can get by on minimal feed while achieving maximum exercise performance. This genetics, which was the prerequisite in the selection of ancestors, threatens our horses today by prosperity diseases, especially grace horses. In addition to obesity, severe metabolic disorders, comparable to diabetes in humans, occur over the years, leading to life-threatening diseases such as laminitis in horses. Feed reduction can lead to digestive disorders and mucosal inflammation of the digestive tract. Short gnawed runs are also not an alternative, because they represent a selection for unhealthy plants.
Target: Grasslands with very different vegetation can be found on the Gut Aiderbichl farms. At the same time, there are different requirements for feed, depending on the animals' state of health. Since 2021, the vegetation has been recorded on the farms to see which grasslands are suitable for old horses and which are less so. Areas that are too rich will be changed toward a healthier forage base. Horses and donkeys threatened by fatty degeneration need old permanent grasslands of low-yielding wild grasses and wild (medicinal) herbs. The plant composition reflects the location with its soils, weather and use. Each farm will develop its own individual composition, which in turn should specifically feed the animals, who can live optimally healthy precisely with it.
New findings: In Trevol (France) and Szepalma (Hungary), the soils and climate provide the opportunity for species-rich semi-arid grasslands to develop. This herb-rich vegetation is considered particularly healthy for sensitive robust horse breeds. Gut Aiderbichl Iffeldorf (Germany) could use meadow foxtail grasslands to produce high yields of crude fiber-rich, low-energy hay. The valley meadows at Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf (Austria) offer a small-scale mosaic of very different compositions. Here, there are even meadows rich in orchids and sour grasses, around a small bog of sphagnum moss and cotton grass.
Outlook: Gut Aiderbichl is breaking new ground. Such different areas under one roof are unique and allow research into the connections between feed basis and animal health, which could be groundbreaking for horse husbandry in the future. We will report on this here.
Publication: Link to
Project management:
Seeds
Basis/starting point: The seed mixtures for horse pastures and horse hay meadows on the market are oriented to the so-called standard mixtures for horses and are poor in species. High-performance grasses used in them force the impoverishment of flora and fauna on horse owners' grasslands. High-performance grasses produce growths (a coating of microorganisms) that are significantly more energy-rich than the landscapes from which horses and burros originally came. A 2020 scientific study also brought to light that about one in four to five traded grassland seed mixes is infected with fungi called endophytes. These fungi give the sown green grass the special resistance to drought, nutrient deficiency and overgrazing that is desirable from a breeding perspective.
The "host grasses" of the fungi are pasture grass and fescue. For horses, some active substances of the fungi are particularly toxic, because these toxins act like endocrine disruptors.
Goal: Gut Aiderbichl wants to take precautions. Grassland located in six different European countries is being tested for the presence of these fungi. Instead of continuing to use cultivated seed from the trade, the aim is to interrupt introduction paths and close cycles. To this end, the company's own farms are being searched for suitable donor areas in the immediate vicinity. Gut Aiderbichl wants to obtain its own wild seed from grasslands that are demonstrably non-toxic and suitable for horses in terms of their plant composition. Harvested at maturity as mulch cuttings, the growth of the donor area can supply patchy areas with seeds as seed transfer and increase the diversity of species-poor areas. Additionally, in cooperation with governmental institutions, an increase in biodiversity is sought through the use of regional wild seed.
New findings: The areas of Gut Aiderbichl are so far predominantly free of toxic endophytes. High seed inputs, also from plants not typical for the site, show areas with high animal stocking with constant hay feeding. Purchased hay contains seeds that pass through the digestive tract unharmed. They enter the land with the nutrient-rich manure and germinate. Manure represents an often overlooked source of seed dispersal. For livestock farmers, areas of high species diversity are not apparent. Vegetation surveys by experts are therefore essential if seed treasures are to be recovered and losses of rare plants avoided.
Outlook: Ecosystems are dynamic. They are subject to constant influences and changes. Permanent monitoring of forage bases by experts helps to identify undesirable changes in good time. In addition to the invasion of forage areas by dangerous poisonous plants and easily overlooked toxic fungi, this concerns in particular the imminent loss of biodiversity.
Publication: Link to
Project management:
Hay quality
Basis/Starting point: The energy content of hay is also far too high for many horses and donkeys. Ironically, the hay that horse owners learn being the best according to all the criteria has the highest energy content. The Austrian Working Group for Grassland and Livestock (Österreichische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Grasland und Viehwirtschaft, ÖAG) states that the very hay which is judged to be the best hay according to all guidelines and which almost all horse owners strive for is suitable for "top horses in sport and breeding". For robust breeds (e.g. Noriker, Haflinger), hay batches with less than half the achievable score in the evaluation are seen by the ÖAG. The horses at Gut Aiderbichl need a completely different hay than the one that is given to sport horses in riding stables. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the teeth of old horses wear down more and more. These animals can no longer chew roughage.
Target: Aromatic, fragrant hay of green colour, rich in leaves and not too coarse, can only be fed to many horses on a rationed basis. However, long pauses in eating can provoke mucosal ulcers in the stomach and intestines and are thus relevant to animal welfare. Slow eating over a long period of low-energy growth is a goal to strive for many grace horses.
New findings: Gut Aiderbichl wants to use labeling to check the quality of each bale while it is still in the hayfield and to establish traceability. The development of each bale is fully documented in a log: Hay area, time of cutting, temperature history, residual moisture, etc. This information will show where there are problems that need to be remedied. In parallel, samples of each batch of hay are sent in for laboratory analysis to confirm energy and protein content and any fungal infections.
Outlook: Hygienic quality requires low-dust hay, free from molds and toxins. Tender herb leaves contain many minerals, proteins and active plant substances of medicinal herbs, which are particularly valuable for old and sick animals. Here is a wide field of experimentation that will still yield exciting results!
Publication: Link to
Project management:
