---

Domestication separated the domestic animal to a great extend from its natural context and it became part of the human culture. Therefore, man is now responsible for the organisation of the physical, physiological, social and instinct adapted environment. The livestock owner is committed to assure these qualities for the domestic animal – in terms of species appropriate feeding, management, breeding and care.

If mistakes occur in these sectors, they can be responsible for the health or illness of an animal. Physical impairment of domestic animals is a consequence of a mental human inappropriate attitude. It is expressed by abnormal organ growth, depending if the animals are mistreated materialistic or mental.

Reference:
SPRANGER, J. (Ed.) (2007): Lehrbuch der anthroposophischen Tiermedizin. Sonntag Verlag, Stuttgart; p. 29
 

---

Use of homeopathic remedies to cure udder inflammation of dairy cattle

Frequently in agricultural practice, good results were obtained by the homeopathic treatment of clinical mastitis. However, there are only few studies with satisfying results on this topic. Many studies are also lacking an untreated or with antibiotics treated control group.

In a two-and-a half-years study with a drove of approximately 300 cows on a biodynamic dairy farm it was tested whether clinical mastitis can also successfully be treated with homeopathic remedies and if it is possible to refrain from using  antibiotics to a great extend.

Methods:
To be able to judge the efficiency of the homeopathic therapy, the mastitis treatment was conducted in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. The treatment concept which was determined at the beginning of the study was based on extensive abandonment of antibiotic use, but had to be rejected because of unsatisfactory treatment results (study phase 1). It was replaced by a modified therapy concept, which included an additional, but restricted use of antibiotics and simultaneously committed the livestock owner to the execution and assurance of urgently required preventive measures. Moreover, the udders with sub clinical and chronic mastitis should be controlled at the beginning of the dry off phase and an antibiotic dry off therapy was selectively used for theses cows (study phase 2).

Characteristics Phase1 no antibiotic treatment allowed no antibiotic dry off therapy allowed decreased environmental herd situation Therapy Protocol acute Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Bryonia D6, Belladonna D6 or Aconitum D6 chronic Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Hepar sulfuris D8

Characteristics Phase 2 antibiotic treatment allowed in case of therapy failure antibiotic dry off therapy in specific infections a lot of herd enhancement measures Therapy Protocol acute Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Bryonia D6, Belladonna D6 orAconitum D6 (with fever > 40 °C) chronic Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Hepar sulfuris D8

Results:
Reduction of antibiotic use in mastitis therapy. The therapy concept in the second study phase permitted that on this diary farm, compared with the conventional antibiotic mastitis therapy, the treatment of clinical mastitis could be done without antibiotics in 75% of the cases.

Evidence of efficacy of homeopathic remedies
As the treatment results of both study groups (verum or placebo) differed only marginally, regarding all treatments, the evidence of efficacy of the homeopathic remedies used for the treatment of clinical mastitis can not be confirmed clearly. However, a comparison of the two treatment groups with completely healed quarters of 107 mastitis cases, which were caused by udder pathogens, suggests an evidence of efficacy (p<0.05).

Reference:
MERCK, C.C.; FIDELAK, C.; KLOCKE, P.; REINECKE, A.; PAAL, K.; ROTHE, J. und SPRANGER, J. (2004): Etablierung der homöopathischen Mastitistherapie in einem biologisch-dynamisch wirtschaftenden Milcherzeugerbetrieb unter Berücksichtigung ökologischer, epidemiologischer und ökonomischer Gesichtspunkte. Abschlussbericht; Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau, Förderkennzeichen 99UM032. fulltext
 

---

 

Self-medication

Self-medication describes the free decision of animals with the choices of fodder and/or medical plants, depending on their state of health. In 2007, a case study on endoparasitic nematods (GSW, gastrointestinal strongyloid worms) was conducted.

At 19 successive dates, fortnightly in summer and in four week intervals in winter, fresh sheep and lamb dung was sampled on the pasture (N=512). The samples were analysed for the number of gastrointestinal strongyloid worm eggs. To record the used herbs, the shepherd's remarks were controlled and completed by own field observations.

It became clear that adult sheep obviously were capable of controlling the GSW infestation at a moderate level, whereas one year old lambs obviously did not have this capability. The observation of the feeding behaviour of the animals indicated plants, which potentially were used for self-medication against GSW. However, controlled feeding studies with these plant combinations during the respective periods are necessary to prove self-medication. Thereby, the immune reaction of the sheep should be tested as a further parameter.

Reference:
VEREIJKEN, H.; RÜBESAM, K. und BAARS T. (2009): Selbstmedikation bei Schafen als eine Ökologisierungsmaßnahme für die Landwirtschaft. Beiträge zur 10. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Zürich, Band 2, 70-73. fulltext