Biologic and botanical approaches to dairy treatments

Hubert J. Karreman, V.M.D.
penndutch@earthlink.net
www.penndutchcowcare.org

Abstract
Organic dairy farming in the United States has the strictest standards in the world in regards to allowed health care treatments for animals. In general, all synthetic medications are prohibited (unless specifically allowed) and all natural medications are allowed (unless specifically prohibited). Regulatory item 7CFR205.603 lists the allowed synthetics for animal healthcare as well as any prohibited naturals (only one, strychnine). There are very few “standard”
conventional veterinary medicines that are allowed. Additionally, 7CFR205.238(c)(7) states that “appropriate medication” cannot be withheld from an animal in order to keep it certified organic but if prohibited materials are used to restore an animal to health the animal must then be removed from organic production (forever).

These two sections of the regulation provide strong incentive for animal health care professionals to consider Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM). However, for truly holistic care of livestock, prevention techniques through smart management techniques are essential prior to actual treatment with natural medicine. In other words, simple input substitution should not be the general approach of a health care provider actively working with organic livestock farmers. While there are many veterinary organizations that promote alternative and holistic care of animals, such organizations tend to be populated by an overwhelming majority of small animal and equine practitioners.

Small animals and equines tend to be viewed as true individual animals when presented for treatment and indepth diagnoses via traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy are usually carried out prior to prescribing individualized dietary changes for the animal, herbs (Chinese and Western), homeopathy (classical, clinical or homotoxicology) and other modalities.

In contrast, individual livestock animals (cows, sheep, hogs and poultry) are treated in a relatively shallow way (from a holistic veterinary perspective). Livestock are much more dependent on the natural resources of their immediate environment and “treating the environment” may be more important than treating an individual animal in some circumstances. For instance, improving quality of water can make a dramatic difference. While organic farms need to graze their cows, some herds could still benefit from more effective fiber in their overall diet. In this sense, holistic treatment of livestock can easily mean treating the whole herd. In the author’s experience, most organic herds are generally healthy, probably due to higher amounts of fiber being fed and other positive
environmental attributes of organic farms (not least of which are no pesticides in the animals’ feed). Once factors affecting water quality, air quality, bedding issues and ration considerations are taken into account, individual treatments of animal will be more effective and couched within a truly holistic treatment setting.

One of the guiding organic principles is that healthy soil begets healthy crops which beget healthy animals. While this is true in general, there are still times when an illness may arise. This is simply a fact of life when tending livestock. At that point, some simple input substitution natural medicines may be needed. A prime example would be ketosis. The condition is a lack of available energy for the animal’s needs. Since dextrose is allowed by 205.603, that can be
given IV. Since propylene glycol is not allowed, simple substitution with glycerin will be equally effective (both are 3 carbon compounds). Depending on the farmer, this may or may not be the complete treatment regime. More holistically minded farmers also like to use a combination of Hydrastis canadensis, Berberis vulgaris, Ceonothus americana, Silybum marianum, Chelidonium majalis and Arctium lappa. All these herbs are well known for their hepato-protective activities.

For general sluggish digestion, with or without ketosis, stomachics such as Zingiber officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare in combination with bitters such as Gentiana lutea and Coffea arabica are commonly employed along with sodium bicarbonate. Pumping the stomach with alfalfa meal, electrolytes and the stomachic/bitters combinations can be very rewarding. Intravenous fluid
replacement therapy should be used if needed.

Non-antibiotic treatment for infectious disease is always a challenge with organic livestock in the U.S. since all antibiotics are prohibited. However, by using biologics in conjunction with botanicals, morbidity and mortality can effectively be decreased. For instance, pneumonia can occur any season on a farm. It can cause permanent damage and death in certain animals. However, the symptoms and severity can be mitigated if biologics, which provide passive antibodies, are instituted early in the course of clinical disease. Certain biologics confer passive
immunity to gram-negative organisms such as Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia hemolytica, Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli. These can work well especially if used in conjunction with a combination of Allium sativum, Echinacea angustofolia, Hydrastis canadensis and Panax ginseng given IV with oral follow-up of the herbs for 3-4 days. The biologic can be administered one time and then in 24-36 hours to maintain passive antibody levels as the half life is about 4-6 days. Essential oil of eucalyptus and camphor provide a more open breathing passage if applied
topically or administered via an atomizer. In the author’s experience, about 90% of the animals suffering with pneumonia and treated as described here will recuperate. However, it takes a few days longer that if antibiotics were used.

Other biologics that can be beneficial are non-specific immune stimulants such as colostrumwhey (ultra-filtered whey) derivatives and mycobacterial cell wall derivatives. The ultra-filtered whey products can be very helpful in decreasing high somatic cell counts as well as restoring certain aspects of the immune system. In the days prior to antibiotics, a cow with a contagious mastitis would sometimes be treated with her own milk (administered subcutaneously). The
cows with no or slight inflammation tended to cure better than those with large swellings postinjection. Mycobacterial cell wall derivatives can stimulate interferon-gamma for up to two months and are therefore applicable for cows with high somatic cell count at dry off.

Use of licensed biologics does not have any associated milk holdout times. However, administered botanicals could leave residues in the milk owing to their pharmacologic constituents. This issue needs more attention by the scientific community.

 

About the Author
Dr. Karreman received his doctor of veterinary medicine in 1995. Since that time he has integrated Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) with regular medicine for 85 certified organic dairy herds in Lancaster, PA. He is frequently invited to speak at professional meetings and has written chapters for 3 scientific books about holistic dairy treatments and written his own book
“Treating Dairy Cows Naturally”. He recently spoke at the American Veterinary Medical Association’s annual meeting.

 

From Proceedings of the 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production
© IFOAM, August 2006, posted here with permission.

 

en français

Posted September 2007