Local knowledge held by farmers in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) about the use of plants to maintain and improve animal health and welfare

Table 1 Categories and number of practices mentioned per category in relation to the farmers’ aim of maintaining and improving livestock health and welfare (n = 144; 1,139 practices mentioned)

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

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