Blood bear as savior: This is how we fight the toxic Jakobskreuz herb!

In Bruchhausen-Vilsen, the Jakobskreuz herb (Senecio Jacobaea) becomes increasingly a problem for agriculture. The farmer Andreas Frahm from Schleswig-Holstein has devoted himself to researching this poisonous herb since 2008, which harbors health risks in particular for farm animals. The Jakobskreuz herb spreads rapidly and makes agricultural areas unusable. To counteract this, Frahm offers its expertise and has moved the velvet community to take measures to combat the JKK.

In a lecture in the town hall of Bruchhausen-Vilsen, around 40 affected and interested part took part in obtaining advice from Frahm to combat the herb. Also striking is the biological combination method that suggests frahm: the use of the bloodbear (Tyria Jacobaeae), whose caterpillars eat the flowers of the plant. On an area of 150,000 hectares, Frahm has examined Efolreich how the blood bear can significantly reduce the existence of the Jakobskreutkraut. The velvet community plans to use its expertise again in order to target the herb and examine the affected areas.

The dangers of the Jakobskreuzkraut

Jakobskreuzkraut contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which lead to severe liver damage, especially in horses, and in the worst case can even be fatal. Although the animals rarely eat fresh herb, they often absorb dried stems in hay or silage. Combating the JKK is difficult because hand removal is complex and chemical agents are undesirable or only effective.

The previous research on the bloodbear shows positive approaches in combating the Jakobskreut herb. An investigation that is carried out together with the University of Kiel and other institutes has shown that the use of blood bears may represent a useful and less labor -intensive method. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the JKK cannot be fully exterminated. Andreas Frahm breeds blood bears and has developed processes to free areas of Jakobskreuzkraut. He also offers training and sells starter sets with a bloodbly caterpillar.

Research on biological control methods is still at the beginning, and success has already been achieved in other countries. In Germany, however, domestic antagonists could bring challenges. The risks related to the purchase of hay must also be observed, since Jakobskreuz herb is difficult to see when dry. Therefore, the correct handling of feed procurement is of great importance to protect the health of animals.