What is your professional career like?
On the advice of our vet, I decided at the age of 18 not to study veterinary medicine as planned, but agronomy at the ETH. There I was able to study the advantages and disadvantages of animal-friendly husbandry systems in term papers and dissertations and as an assistant at the Institute of Physiology and Animal Husbandry. This also brought me into closer contact with the fascinating world of parasites for the first time. After a year of industrial experience in the field of parasitology, I realized that my future lay more in biological control and preventive measures to ensure animal health than in the search for new molecules. I then seized the opportunity to write an interdisciplinary dissertation at the ETH on the epidemiology and biological control of the red mite in the then new aviary houses for laying hens. Soon afterwards, a good 25 years ago, I joined the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL as a second member of staff in the newly founded livestock research department. We quickly built up our division at FiBL with research topics between animal breeding and animal health and, for me, exciting tasks as project and department head.
What are your tasks in your current position?
For the past eight years, I have been focusing more on my core area, parasitological research. Today I am Co-Group Leader Animal Health in our almost 40-strong Department of Livestock Sciences. I lead various projects, for example on worm control in laying hens, biological control of gastrointestinal worms in ruminants and insect protection in grazing animals. I am also responsible for our parasitological diagnostics laboratory and, as FiBL's animal welfare officer, I check our animal testing applications before they are submitted. I particularly enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams, whether within FiBL with other departments or as part of EU research projects with international colleagues from research, industry and practice.
Why are you at SVT?
That's one of the reasons I joined the SVT. It's important to me that researchers from different disciplines and players from the entire sector get to know each other and exchange ideas. Especially now, when livestock farming is being called into question like never before, it is important that we all address this topic together and find answers. Of course, the topic is not only topical for us in Switzerland, it was also a focus of the last conference of the European Association for Animal Sciences EVT/EAAP. Attending this conference and exchanging ideas with international colleagues is always very enriching for me.
What are your tasks? How long have you been involved?
I've been on the SVT Board since 2009. Since then, my tasks have included assessing applications for the promotion of young talent and helping to organize conferences. I represented Switzerland and Germany on the EAAP Board for four years. In 2022, I was elected to succeed Res Hofer as President of the SVT. My most important task at the moment is to lead the process of determining the position of our association. The first visible result of this "gentle renovation" is the newsletter you are currently reading.
What do you like to do when you're not working for FiBL or SVT? Do you have (farm) animals at home? What do you do with them?
Privately, I am lucky enough to live with my family in Fricktal in a house with land and a stable for our Icelandic horses, some chickens and occasionally a few Engadine sheep. When I'm not in the stables or out with my dog and horse in my free time, I'm often in the kitchen. I love preparing great regional food and enjoying it with family and friends. When it comes to animal products, I'm a big fan of "from nose to tail". For me, using the whole animal as food as much as possible is part of valuing our animals. There are many traditional dishes that take a little time to prepare but taste wonderful.
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