The farther we stray from a natural environment for our animals the higher the risk for parasite infestation and mortality. Livestock farmers are faced with numerous challenges. Economic pressure force farmers to make decisions where the health and well-being of their animals does not always receive the highest priority. The result is that animals are farmed in feedlot environments in order to achieve the highest possible income. The animals, whether it is cattle, sheep, ostriches or chickens are exposed to extreme levels of stress. This, in turn makes them highly susceptible to parasite infestations that lead to high mortality rates. The crisis is further exasperated by the inability of chemical products to address the problem Chemical products are administered within the context of a symptom treatment approach. It means that the maximum amount of product needs to be dosed when the parasite numbers are already at their highest level. At this stage the animals are already in a poor condition with their immune system in a compromised state. Economic loss has also set in in the form of production loss and mortalities. Furthermore, the frequent use of chemical substances results in the build-up of parasite resistance. New chemical products therefore need to be developed continuously in order to stay ahead of this vicious cycle with no real solution to the problem in sight. We have therefor created our own crisis and the answers that we invent to solve it is just taking us further down this road. Is there a sustainable solution to this? The answer is Yes, absolutely Yes!!!
We need to look no further than in nature itself. A healthy soil environment consists of a host of organisms that has the ability to control parasitic nematodes. These include some bacteria, fungi and protozoan species.
Fig 1: Arthrobotrys Dactyloides with a ring mechanism to capture nematodes
One such fungi is Arthrobotrys Dactyloides that has a constricting ring mechanism with the ability to attract nematodes with pheromone excretions. Once the parasite puts its head in the death loop it gets captured in a split-second constriction of the loop. The fungi also excrete enzymes that digests the parasite within an hour. The different mechanisms to eliminate parasitic larvae is as numerous as is the diversity of organisms in the soil.
An outstanding feature of parasitic fungi over that of chemical compounds is that certain fungi can penetrate the eggs of parasitic larvae. Parasitic eggs are totally resilient to chemical compounds. The resilience is so strong that if you want to do the job the chemical route, not only the egg of the parasite will be destroyed, but also the host animal itself.
Fig 2: Rhopalomyces elegans fungi infection of a nematode egg
What is the implication of biological parasite control for farmers? It provides a sustainable alternative to chemical control agents.
Vermate probiotic consists of a diversity of soil micro-organisms with parasite control characteristics. These characteristics are integrated with a diversity of organisms that improves overall gut health as well as micro-minerals that improves the immune system and overall condition.
Anyone who understand animal health will know that the only way to overcome parasite infestations is to always keep your animals in prime condition.
The use of parasitic fungi to control parasite levels in a sensitive ecosystem such as an animal’s gut is a fantastic demonstration of how an ecosystem can rid itself from infectious elements without destroying the host or its own environment. God in his wonderful wisdom has built these fine elements into nature to control itself. Just like the fine ecosystems in nature He has given us safe limits within which we can live our lives without causing harm to ourself or people around us. Man in his arrogant strive towards independence of God has invented his own synthetic systems and in doing so created devastating problems for himself. In order to rectify the situation, we try to invent synthetic elements to overcome the crisis that we have invented. Once the bottom of this whole approach has fallen out might we realize that there is a sustainable solution. I trust that the lesson we learn from this will encourage us to seek and apply His principles in every aspect of our daily lives. VeN
