Hertzberg and his team found that, of the 400 horses monitored over the past year, only 10% needed treatment against strongyle infestation. | Photo: The Horse Staff

Have you managed your farm’s parasite portfolio lately? If not, it might be time to pick up on this new Swiss trend.

By analyzing each farm’s portfolio—or, the parasite load based on fecal egg counts, management systems, kind of farm (sport, leisure, breeding, etc.)—specialized equine health organizations now offer Swiss horse owners a parasite control method that’s effective and cost-efficient, said Hubertus Hertzberg, PhD, researcher at the Institute of Parasitology of the Vetsuisse Faculty at the University of Zurich and head of parasite monitoring at HealthBalance, a private holistic animal management and veterinary practice, based in Niederuzwil.

Over the past year, Hertzberg and his fellow researchers have made parasite portfolio discoveries that are both satisfying and surprising. He presented this research at the 2014 Swiss Equine Research Day held April 10 in Avenches