Volunteer training Missen im Allgäu

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In addition to the missions we have already carried out in recent years to help on farms, we also offer training courses for volunteers. The basics are taught here: What does livestock protection, life and behavior of wolves mean, measures livestock protection to implement, opportunities to help as a volunteer, what are their tasks and what are not…

In mid-February 2023, we were able to rent a vacation apartment on Herbert Siegel’s picturesque farm in the Allgäu and experience two intensive days of training. Herbert Siegel and his family keep chickens (where they currently face the greatest challenges in livestock protection against foxes), sheep, suckler cows, a group of bulls and pigs.

In addition to the theoretical basics, there was plenty of information material to browse through and special presentations and insights into grazing animal husbandry. Martin Hermle from Bioland, a Bioland consultant and livestock farmer, provided information on the importance of grassland management and grazing livestock farming. The spectrum ranges from animal welfare, animal health, positive effects on nutrition and healthy products (milk, meat) to nature conservation issues and habitat creation for other animal and plant species.

Hans Peter Leinthaler, chairman of the Allgäu sheep farmers and also one of the practice farms livestock protection in the LIFEstockProtect project, talked about his farm, sheep farming and its importance in general and the special conditions and challenges in the Allgäu.
Hans Peter Leinthaler fences his slopes with wire: a challenge to handle, but a good and durable way of building fences. In the afternoon, Hans Peter Leinthaler demonstrated his use of wire, his tricks and hacks. Each participant was able to try their hand at wire and train for further applications.

On the evening before the training, as well as at individual program training sessions at the weekend, livestock owners and other people involved in forestry and hunting came alongside the volunteers to gather information, exchange ideas and give the volunteers an insight into their concerns.

The training courses are designed to provide volunteers with an initial insight and skills. Equally important is the exchange on agricultural issues and pasture animal husbandry.

We will return to Herbert Siegel’s farm with a work assignment and help him build a fence at his farm at the end of April.