Innovations in Parasite Control for Organic Farming

 
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ProPara aim
 
Generate information and novel tools that can be readily
used by organic farmers to improve animal health and
welfare
Achieve this by targeting the interface between research
and dissemination
We will utilise industry datasets (e.g. liver condemnation
data) and close links with key stakeholders for our on-farm
trials (through the extension services of the partners)
 
ProPara approach
 
Perform targeted research at a farm systems level,
to fine-tune sustainable parasite control strategies,
and/or facilitate the implementation plans
Pool information generated from the current and
legacy national and international research projects
and perform cost-benefit and farmers’ acceptance
analysis
Evaluate implementation strategies and
disseminate them to key stakeholders of the wider
organic community
 
ProPara deliverables
 
Report on helminth parasite control strategies across organic farms in
Europe
Generate quantitative data on the use of alternatives for GIN control in
organic sheep and goats
Economic impacts of the implementation of alternative approaches for
GIN control
Characterisation of dairy cattle breeds on their resilience/robustness to
GIN infections
Estimates of liver and rumen fluke incidence in organic cattle and sheep
farms
Electronic application (‘app’) that identifies potential risk of infection with
liver fluke
Web-based decision tree evaluated by the organic farming community
for its applicability, for the control of GIN in cattle, sheep and goats
 
 
UK contribution
 
Perform on farm trials where alternative
strategies of GIN control are put to test by
organic farmers
Basket of options trial
 
Organic sheep farmers are given options to consider for
sustainable worm control
Suggested strategies to reduce worm burdens:
- Drench if FEC are rising
- Protein supplementation (DUP) around parturition and/or
lactation
- Grazing on bioactive forages, e.g. chicory
- TSTs. Weigh lambs a few times a year and calculate grass
availability. If weight is less than expected (based on grass
availability measured) animals get drenched
 
The participating farmer can select one or more of these
options, use it in one group, and then compare the results
with another group managed in a “usual” manner.
 
Farmer 1: FEC vs weight gain
 
Currently
- Ewes: mob FEC and “blanket drenching” although he leaves
10% undrenched
- Lambs: drenching based on mob FEC if suspected problems
Farmer monitors lamb weights at 2-3 occasions.
- 1
st
  42-84 day old,
- 2
nd
 21 weeks old
- Likely a third weighing sometime between the two above
He also measures DM of grass.
 
 
 
Preliminary conclusion
 
Drenching on weight gain did not target the
animals with high FEC
Small scale experiment?
Still waiting on final numbers
 
Farmer 2: Protein supplementation
 
Current parasite control strategies: clean grazing, drenching following
mob FEC
Pre Lambing (22/2/15) he feeds a home made mix consisting of:
 
Organic HiPro Soya 50g/Lamb (oil 2.10%, Fibre 3.60%, Protein
 
47.5%, Ash 6.50%)
      
 
Organic Molasses 8g/lamb
      
 
Organic Oats 50g/lamb
     
 
Minerals  10g/lamb
      
 
Ad lib Grass and Hi mag mineral buckets.
2weeks before official lambing date ( 23/3/15) and 6 weeks of Lambing
as above but in addition ad lib Silage
Post Lambing n=10 ewes were supplemented with 100g organic soya
per lamb (treated group). Control group stayed unsupplemented (n=10)
 
 
 
 
Preliminary conclusion
 
Soya supplementation has reduced FEC in
ewes
Small scale experiment, but encouraging
Still waiting on final lamb weights to
investigate whether there was an effect on
lamb performance
 
Farmer 3: Low Input. Source
of protein Soya vs Sopralin
 
Soya and sopralin both high in protein, but
sopralin higher in DUP
Aim was to test the effect of protein source
on FEC and weight gain of ewes
Supplementation about 100g/day per lamb
N=10
 
Preliminary conclusion
 
A diet rich in DUP does not seem to infer any
additional benefits to FEC and performance
of ewes
Small scale experiment
 
 
Acknowledgements
 
Financial support provided by transnational
funding bodies, being partners of the FP7
ERA-net project, CORE Organic Plus, and
the cofund from the European Commission.
 
http://coreorganicplus.org/research-
projects/propara/
 
 
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ProPara is dedicated to optimizing parasite control strategies for organic farms through targeted research and innovative tools. By generating data, evaluating implementation strategies, and collaborating with key stakeholders, ProPara aims to enhance animal health and welfare in organic farming practices. The project focuses on delivering valuable insights and practical solutions to address parasitological challenges in organic agriculture.


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  1. TACKLING THE PARASITOLOGICAL CHALLENGES ARISING FROM ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICES Spiridoula Athanasiadou, ProPara coordinator Leading the way in Agriculture and Rural Research, Education and Consulting

  2. ProPara aim Generate information and novel tools that can be readily used by organic farmers to improve animal health and welfare Achieve this by targeting the interface between research and dissemination We will utilise industry datasets (e.g. liver condemnation data) and close links with key stakeholders for our on-farm trials (through the extension services of the partners)

  3. ProPara approach Perform targeted research at a farm systems level, to fine-tune sustainable parasite control strategies, and/or facilitate the implementation plans Pool information generated from the current and legacy national and international research projects and perform cost-benefit and farmers acceptance analysis Evaluate implementation strategies and disseminate them to key stakeholders of the wider organic community

  4. ProPara deliverables Report on helminth parasite control strategies across organic farms in Europe Generate quantitative data on the use of alternatives for GIN control in organic sheep and goats Economic impacts of the implementation of alternative approaches for GIN control Characterisation of dairy cattle breeds on their resilience/robustness to GIN infections Estimates of liver and rumen fluke incidence in organic cattle and sheep farms Electronic application ( app ) that identifies potential risk of infection with liver fluke Web-based decision tree evaluated by the organic farming community for its applicability, for the control of GIN in cattle, sheep and goats

  5. UK contribution Perform on farm trials where alternative strategies of GIN control are put to test by organic farmers

  6. Basket of options trial Organic sheep farmers are given options to consider for sustainable worm control Suggested strategies to reduce worm burdens: - Drench if FEC are rising - Protein supplementation (DUP) around parturition and/or lactation - Grazing on bioactive forages, e.g. chicory - TSTs. Weigh lambs a few times a year and calculate grass availability. If weight is less than expected (based on grass availability measured) animals get drenched The participating farmer can select one or more of these options, use it in one group, and then compare the results with another group managed in a usual manner.

  7. Farmer 1: FEC vs weight gain Currently - Ewes: mob FEC and blanket drenching although he leaves 10% undrenched - Lambs: drenching based on mob FEC if suspected problems Farmer monitors lamb weights at 2-3 occasions. - 1st 42-84 day old, - 2nd 21 weeks old - Likely a third weighing sometime between the two above He also measures DM of grass.

  8. Weight gain 01. 07 19. 07 1. 00 0. 80 0. 60 kg/ day 0. 40 0. 20 0. 00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

  9. FEC 01. 07 19. 07 350 280 210 eggs/ g 140 70 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

  10. Preliminary conclusion Drenching on weight gain did not target the animals with high FEC Small scale experiment? Still waiting on final numbers

  11. Farmer 2: Protein supplementation Current parasite control strategies: clean grazing, drenching following mob FEC Pre Lambing (22/2/15) he feeds a home made mix consisting of: Organic HiPro Soya 50g/Lamb (oil 2.10%, Fibre 3.60%, Protein 47.5%, Ash 6.50%) Organic Molasses 8g/lamb Organic Oats 50g/lamb Minerals 10g/lamb Ad lib Grass and Hi mag mineral buckets. 2weeks before official lambing date ( 23/3/15) and 6 weeks of Lambing as above but in addition ad lib Silage Post Lambing n=10 ewes were supplemented with 100g organic soya per lamb (treated group). Control group stayed unsupplemented (n=10)

  12. Faceal Egg Counts Un- suppl em ent ed Soya- suppl em ent ed 700 560 FEC ( eggs/ g) 420 280 140 0 07. 05. 15 14. 06. 15

  13. Preliminary conclusion Soya supplementation has reduced FEC in ewes Small scale experiment, but encouraging Still waiting on final lamb weights to investigate whether there was an effect on lamb performance

  14. Farmer 3: Low Input. Source of protein Soya vs Sopralin Soya and sopralin both high in protein, but sopralin higher in DUP Aim was to test the effect of protein source on FEC and weight gain of ewes Supplementation about 100g/day per lamb N=10

  15. Faceal Egg Counts Soya Sopr al i n 40 32 FEC ( eggs/ g) 24 16 8 0 09/ 12/ 2015 21/ 02/ 2016

  16. Ewe Weight Soya Sopr al i n 110 88 Wei ght ( kg) 66 44 22 0 09/ 12/ 2015 21/ 02/ 2016

  17. Preliminary conclusion A diet rich in DUP does not seem to infer any additional benefits to FEC and performance of ewes Small scale experiment

  18. Acknowledgements Financial support provided by transnational funding bodies, being partners of the FP7 ERA-net project, CORE Organic Plus, and the cofund from the European Commission. http://coreorganicplus.org/research- projects/propara/

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