Alternative Treatments

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There was enormous variation between organic farmers in the alternative remedies used and the treatment regimes (amount used, frequency of use etc). Of the organic farmers, 31 (out of 40) said they used homeopathy or other alternative treatments. However, there was a large range in the type of treatment used. For instance, 12 non-antibiotic treatments were used for mastitis including uddermint (a cream applied directly to a mastitic udder), belladonna, bryonia and urtica (BBU), hepar sulph, phytolacca and other homeopathic remedies (SAC, 2006).

Improved hygiene, outdoor access, use of nursing cows and blinding of chronic mastitis quarters were the main alternatives for developing a non-antimicrobial-use strategy in the herd (Vaarst et al., 2005).

References

SAC (2006) The welfare of dairy cows on organic milk production systems Final Report to Defra on Project AW1020.