New competence centre in Mörtschach (Carinthia)

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On February 22nd 2023, a new Carinthian competence centre was added to LIFEstockProtect. Biobergohf lies in Mörtschach am Berg at 1300m above sea level. The terrain is relatively steep. The farm has been running since 2008 and certified organic with Austria Bio Garantie since 2016.

The farmer, Michael, and his wife Tanja live and work there. They have around 40 to 50 sheep of the Carniolan Steinschaf breed, two donkeys, some ducks and chickens, cats, a herding dog and – more recently – two Livestock guarding dogs, Abruzzese Maremmano. The two females are still young, only around a year old. The reason for their acquisition was a wolf sighting on one of the farmer’s fields. This took place on April 5th 2021 at 04:50 in the morning, and was photographically recorded 20 minutes later.

Before Michael bought the dogs, he only had a simple electrified fence to protect the sheep and donkeys when grazing. Now he plans to build another fixed fence with T-posts and 5 strands of 450 meters to provide additional protection for his livestock. He has been using pasture fencing equipment with 10,000 volts and at least 5 joules of impact energy since 2021.

In summer, Michael brings around 30 ewes plus male lambs with the sheep of other farmers to the mountain pasture directly above him. He uses his sheep for cheese, skins and milk for his own consumption.

Michael talked about the first sheep depredations in the area, in the town of Heiligenblut. That was back in 2021. Since them, depredations of deer as well as sheep were repeatedly observed. Michael found some of the depredated animals himself, on the forest track next to his farm.

As a new Livestock Protection Competence Center, Michael’s farm and area will be used to hold courses on Livestock protection and Livestock guarding dogs. As usual, the dates for these will be displayed on the website.