Severe worm infestations occur on farms that feed fresh green fodder to animals in the barn. The manure is usually removed and stored every two to three months. In autumn, it is then spread on meadows. This corresponds to the closed-loop system required in organic farming. In addition to providing nutrients, the manure stabilizes the soil structure, loosens the soil, and thus improves root penetration. This has a positive effect on the grass cover and biodiversity. However, alongside these positive effects on the soil and grass cover, there can also be negative effects on animal health because parasite stages that survive in the stored manure are spread on forage meadows and reintroduced into the animals during forage harvesting. Thus, the parasite life cycle is complete.
This project investigates the effects of three different composting methods on the parasite stage content in manure/compost and whether composting can interrupt the life cycle of most gastrointestinal worms.