Background
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What knowledge do farmers have of general practices that maintain the health and welfare of livestock?
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What knowledge do farmers have about plants that maintain the health and welfare of livestock?
Methods
Sampling
Data collection
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Free List 1 (FL 1, n = 144): The informants’ knowledge of general practices that maintain the health and welfare of livestock
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Free List 2 (FL 2, n = 144): The informants’ knowledge of specific plants that maintain the health and welfare of livestock
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Free List 3 (FL 3, n = 144): The informants’ knowledge of plants that treat livestock diseases. The informants also mentioned plants related to maintaining livestock health and welfare here. Only this data is presented in this paper.
Characteristics of the study area
History of feed and fodder in the study area
Results
Knowledge of general practices
Category | Number of practices mentioned | Examples of practices mentioned by informants |
---|---|---|
Fodder/feeding | 416 | Kind of fodder, quality of fodder etc. (Table 2) |
Animal care or management | 338 | Claw trimming, animal cleanliness, exercise during summer on alpine grazing grounds |
Environmental management | 209 | Ventilation in the stable, cleanliness of troughs, sufficient litter |
Human-animal relationship | 70 | Taking one’s time, handling with care and love, proper observation of animals |
Veterinary medicine | 21 | Deworming, sheep dip, testing for Lyme disease, veterinarian medical control |
Household remedy | 18 | Lubrication with used grease or lard against insects |
Breeding | 18 | Own breeds, native breeds, Simmental breed vulnerable to claw problems |
Cultural-religious activities | 13 | Sprinkling with holy water, feeding of sacred Easter horseradish, feeding of sacred salt |
Other categories | 36 | Organic farming |
Sub-Category | Number of practices | Explication | Examples of practices |
---|---|---|---|
Kind of fodder/feed | 164 | Composition of fodder and different components of particular fodder, including feeding composition at a particular stage of animal life | “mountain meadow hay”, “wheat bran”, “colostrum” … |
“14 days before calving, feeding of …” | |||
Quality of fodder | 125 | Different terms for high quality | “clean”, “healthy”, “good”, “own” |
Feeding ration | 65 | Amount of feeding ration and appropriate rate of different components of the fodder | “more hay than silage“, “enough of…”, “not too much of …” |
Method of fodder production | 39 | Methods concerning mainly grassland | “no artificial fertiliser for grassland”, “mowing after sunset”, “mowing when grasses are mature” |
Other sub-categories | 23 | “naturally feeding”, “organic agriculture” |
Knowledge of plants that maintain livestock health and welfare
Category | Number of plants mentioned | Number of generic terms mentioned | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All | FL2 | FL3 | HI | All | FL2 | FL3 | HI | |
Totala
| 87 | 51 | 39 | 69 | 22 | 16 | 7 | 14 |
Kind of fodder/feeda
| 77 | 45 | 38 | 60 | 20 | 15 | 6 | 14 |
Care of the animalsa
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
Environmental managementa
| 11 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Human-animal relationshipa
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 |
Veterinary medicinea
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Household remedya (excluding fodder medicine) | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Cultural/religious activitiesa
| 17 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Kind of fodder/feed
Category | Local name | FL1 + FL2 | FL3 | HI | Fo/Fe | Animal | Application | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plants | ||||||||
Abies alba Mill. | Tanne | 1 | 0 | x | a/c/d | var | Ap; Dig; Goo; Is; Per; Rest; | Em |
Achillea millefolium L. | Schafgarbe | 3 | 12/22 | x | b/c/d | go, var | Ba; Dig; Is; Rep2; Sed; | Ra |
Alchemilla spp. | Frauenmantel | 1 | 2/4 | x | a/d | var, ca | Dig; Goo; Is; Rep1; | Ra |
Allium cepa L. | Zwiebel | 0 | 6/20 | x | d | ca, sh | Rep2; | - |
Allium sativum L. | Knoblauch | 0 | 2/8 | x | c/d | ca | Ap; Rep1; | - |
Alnus alnobetula (Ehrh.) K.Koch | Lutterstaude | 0 | 0 | x | b | var | Ba; | - |
Althaea officinalis L. | Eibisch | 0 | 3/5 | x | d | ca, var | Is; Rep2; | Ra |
Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. | Wiesenkerbel, Rosskümmel | 3 | 0 | - | a/b | ca | Ba; Goo; | - |
Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. | Kren | 1 | 0 | x | - | var | - | Ra |
Arnica montana L. | Arnika | 2 | 11/58 | x | c/d | var, ca | Is; Rep2; | Hr, Ra |
Artemisia absinthium L. | Wermut | 0 | 24/39 | x | c/d | ca | Dig; Is; Sed; | Ra |
Avena sativa L. | Hafer, Hobo | 15 | 6/15 | x | c/d | ca, sh, ho | Goo; Per; Rep1; Rep2; Sed; Sk; | - |
Beta vulgaris L. | Futterrübe, Runkel | 8 | 0 | x | a | ca, pi | Goo | - |
Betula spp. | Birke | 0 | 1/2 | x | d | var | Is; | - |
Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. | Kobis, Weißkraut | 2 | 1/6 | x | a/d | pi, ca | Goo; Is; Rep1; Rep2; | - |
Brassica rapa var. rapa L. | Rübe, Herbstrübe | 2 | 0/15 | x | a/c/d | ca, pi | Goo; Is; Per; Ur; | - |
Calendula officinalis L. | Ringelblume, Ringelrose | 0 | 1/30 | x | d | ca, var | Dig; Is | Ra |
Cannabis sativa L. | Hanf | 0 | 1/1 | x | d | ca | Rep2; | - |
Carlina acaulis L. | Silberdistel | 0 | 0 | x | a | ca, pi | Goo; | - |
Carum carvi L. | Kümmel, Kümmelstaude | 0 | 2/6 | x | d | ca | Rep2; | - |
Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. | Goasstraube, Isländisch Moos | 22 | 13/44 | x | c/d | ca, sh, ho, pi | Is; Per; Rest; Rep1; Sk; | - |
Cirsium spinosissimum (L.) Scop. | Einhacken | 1 | 0 | x | c | ca, pi | Per; | - |
Coriandrum sativum L. | Koriander | 1 | 0 | - | d | ca | Dig; | - |
Corylus avellana L. | Hasel | 0 | 0 | x | a | var | Goo; | - |
Cucurbita spp. | Focknkürbis | 0 | 0 | x | a | pi | Goo; | - |
Elymus repens (L.) Gould | Queckenwurzn | 0 | 0 | x | a | ca, sh | Fs; | - |
Epilobium spp. | Weidenröschen | 0 | 0 | x | - | var | - | Ra |
Equisetum arvense L. | Zinnkraut | 1 | 0 | - | a | var | Goo; | - |
Fagopyrum esculentum Moench | Buchweizen | 0 | 1/1 | - | d | ho | Rep1; | - |
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Fenchel | 1 | 2/6 | x | d | ca | Dig; Rep2; | - |
Fraxinus excelsior L. | Esche | 2 | 0 | x | a/c | ca, sh | Goo; | Em |
Geranium spp. | Storchenschnabel | 0 | 4/4 | x | d | ca | Rep1; | - |
Helianthus annuus L. | Sonnenblume | 0 | 0 | x | c/d | var | Sed; | - |
Heracleum sphondylium L. | Bärenklau, Bärentatze | 0 | 0 | x | a/b | ca | Ba; Goo; | - |
Hordeum vulgare L. | Gerste | 16 | 5/16 | x | c/d | ca, sh, ho | Per; Rep1; Rep2; | Hr |
Hypericum perforatum L. | Johanniskraut | 1 | 2/12 | x | d | var, ca | Is; Rep2; | Hr, Ra |
Juglans regia L. | Walnuß | 1 | 0/2 | x | - | var | - | Em |
Juniperus communis L. | Kranewitten, Wacholder | 6 | 5/14 | x | a/c/d | ca | Dig; Goo; Is; Per; Sed; | Em |
Lamium spp. | Taubnessel | 1 | 0 | - | a | chi | Goo; | - |
Larix decidua Mill. | Lärche | 1 | 0/40 | x | a | var | Goo; | Em |
Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz | Madaun, Goblitz, Mutterwurz | 0 | 0 | x | a | var | Goo; | - |
Linum usitatissimum L. | Leinsamen, Hoorsomen, Linsat | 34 | 22/49 | x | c/d | ca, sh, ho | Dig; Per; Rep2; Sk; Sed; | Hr |
Malva neglecta Wallr. | Kaspappel | 0 | 0/9 | x | c/d | ca | Dig; | - |
Matricaria chamomilla L. | Kamille | 1 | 27/100 | x | c/d | var, ca, chi | Is; Rep1; Rep2; Sed; | Hr, Ra |
Medicago sp. | Luzerne | 1 | 0 | - | a | var | Goo; | - |
Melissa officinalis L. | Melisse | 1 | 0 | - | - | var | - | Em |
Mentha spp. | Minze | 2 | 0/1 | x | d | var | Is; Sed; | Em, Ra |
Papaver somniferum L. | Mohn, Mogn | 0 | 1/4 | x | d | ca | Rest; | - |
Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W.D.J. Koch | Meisterwurz | 0 | 3/5 | x | d | var | Is; | Ra |
Picea abies (L.) H.Karst. | Fichte | 19 | 4/26 | x | a/c/d | ca, sh, go | Ap; Dig; Goo; Is; Per; Rest; | Em |
Pimpinella anisum L. | Anis | 1 | 1/3 | - | d | ca | Dig; | - |
Pimpinella saxifraga L. | Bockwurz, Bibernelle | 0 | 0 | x | c | chi | Is; | - |
Pisum sativum L. | Erbse | 1 | 0 | - | a | ca | Goo; | - |
Plantago lanceolata L. | Spitzwegerich | 1 | 0 | - | a | var | Goo; | - |
Prunus avium L. | Kirsche | 0 | 0 | x | a | var | Goo; | - |
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn | Adlerfarn | 0 | 1/1 | x | d | sh | Ap; | Em |
Quercus spp. | Eiche | 0 | 0 | x | a | var | Goo; | - |
Ranunculus spp. | Hahnfuß | 1 | 0 | - | b | var | Ba; | - |
Rhinanthus spp. | Klopf | 1 | 0 | - | b | var | Ba; | - |
Rhododendron spp. | Almrose | 0 | 0 | x | b | var | Ba; | - |
Rosa spp. | Rose | 0 | 1/1 | - | d | ca | Rep2; | - |
Rubus idaeus L. | Himbeere | 0 | 0/1 | x | a | var | Goo; | Ra |
Rumex spp. | Saupletschn, Focknpletschn, Sauer-Ampfer | 8 | 0/1 | x | a/b/c/d | ca, pi, ho, chi | Ba; Goo; Is; Per; Rep2; | - |
Salix spp. | Palmbuschn | 2 | 2/2 | x | - | var | - | Hr, Ra |
Salvia officinalis L. | Salbei | 0 | 0/3 | x | - | var | - | Ra |
Sambucus nigra L. | Schwarzer Holler | 3 | 2/16 | x | c | ca, pi | Is; | Em, Hr |
Secale cereale L. | Roggen | 7 | 12/18 | x | b/c/d | ca, pi | Ba; Rep1; Rep2; | - |
Solanum tuberosum L. | Erdäpfel, Kartoffel | 5 | 0/2 | x | a/d | chi, ca, sh | Fs; Goo; Rep2; | - |
Stellaria media (L.) Vill. | Hühnerdarm, Hiagepanze | 0 | 0 | x | a | pi, chi | Goo; | - |
Symphytum officinale L. | Beinwell | 1 | 0/2 | - | a | chi | Goo; | - |
Thymus spp. | Quendel | 1 | 1/3 | x | c/d | ca, Pi | Ap; Is; Per; | Hr |
Trifolium spp. | Kleegras | 2 | 0 | - | a | ca | Goo; | - |
Triticum aestivum L. | Weizen | 14 | 2/8 | x | c/d | ca | Dig; Rep2; Rest; | - |
Urtica dioica L. | Brennessel | 13 | 1/5 | x | a/c/d | ca, pi, chi | Dig; Goo; Is; Per; Rest; Sk; | - |
Usnea spp. | Baumbart, Rock | 0 | 0 | x | a | var | Fs; | - |
Vaccinium myrtillus L. | Schwarzbeere, Heidelbeere | 0 | 0/8 | x | - | var | - | Ra |
Verbascum spp. | Himmelsbrand | 0 | 0 | x | - | ar | - | Ra |
Vicia faba L. | Scholleboan, Bühn | 5 | 0 | x | a | var | Fs; | - |
Vicia sativa L. | Futterwicke | 1 | 0 | - | a | ca | Goo; | - |
x Triticosecale Wittm. | Triticale | 0 | 1/1 | - | d | sh | Rep1; | - |
Zea mays ssp. mays L. | Türgn, Mais | 2 | 0/1 | x | a | chi | Goo; | - |
Processed commercial products | ||||||||
Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (black tea) | Schwarztee | 0 | 4/41 | x | d | ca | Is; Rest; | - |
Coffea arabica L. (coffee) | Kaffee | 1 | 17/29 | x | d | ca | Rest; Rep2; | - |
Echinacea spp. (homöopathic medicine) | Echinacea | 1 | 0 | - | - | ca | - | Hr |
Malus domestica Borkh. (apple cider vinegar) | Apfelessig | 4 | 5/10 | x | c/d | ca, pi, var | Is; Rep1; | Ca, Em |
Mentha spp. (peppermint oil) | Minzöl | 1 | 0 | - | - | ca | - | Ca |
Vitis vinifera L. (red and white wine) | Wein | 1 | 4/6 | x | d | ca, go | Rep1; Rep2; Rest; | - |
Generic terms | ||||||||
“Alpine fodder” | Almgras, Almfutter | 7 | 0 | x | a | var | Goo; | - |
After-grass | Gruimat | 6 | 0 | x | c | var | Rep2; Is; | Ra |
Ash | Asche | 0 | 1/1 | x | d | pi | Rep1; | - |
Beer | Bier | 0 | 4/4 | - | d | ca | Rest; Rep2; | - |
Bread | Brot | 0 | 0 | x | d | ca, var | Rest | Hum, Ra |
Concentrated feeding stuff | Leck, Kraftfutter | 9 | 0 | x | a/c | var | Goo; | - |
Grass | Gras | 4 | 1/4 | - | a/c/d | ca, chi | Goo; Rep1; | - |
Grist | Schrot | 1 | 0 | x | a | ca | Goo; | - |
Hard liquor | Schnaps | 0 | 39/84 | x | d | ca | Rest; Rep2; Sed; | Hr |
Hay | Heu | 10 | 0/7 | x | a | var | Dig; Goo; Is | Ra |
Hay from marshy/mossy meadow | Sauerheu | 3 | 0 | - | a | ho | Goo; | - |
Hay-blossoms | Bliuma, Mürach | 35 | 3/10 | x | a/c/d | pi, ca, chi, var | Goo; Is; Per; Rest; Rep2 | Em, Hr, Ra |
Herbs | Kräuter | 14 | 0/1 | x | a | ca, pi, var | Goo; Is; | Ra |
Marc | Trester | 1 | 0 | - | a | ca | Goo; | - |
Moss | Moos | 0 | 1/1 | x | - | pi | - | Em |
Mountain meadow hay | Bergheu, Wiesenheu, Almheu | 27 | 0/6 | x | a/c/d | var | Dig; Goo; | - |
Roughage | Raufutter | 2 | 0 | - | a | var | Goo; | - |
Sawdust | Sägemehl | 2 | 0 | - | - | var | - | Em |
Silage | Gärfutter | 2 | 0 | - | a | var | Goo; | - |
Straw | Stroh | 9 | 0 | x | a/c | var | Fs; Rep2; | Em, Hr |
Sugar | Zucker | 0 | 3/6 | x | d | ca | Rep2; | - |
Thistles | Disteln | 5 | 0 | x | c | ca, pi | Per; | - |