Volume 105, Issue 1, February 2016, Pages 102–108
Original paper
- 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain
- 2 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain
- 3 Centro Tecnológico Agroalimentario de Lugo (CETAL), 27003 Lugo, Spain
- 4 Centro de Investigación y Formación Agrarias (CIFA), Héroes 2 de mayo 27, 39600 Muriedas, Cantabria, Spain
- Received 10 October 2014, Revised 17 July 2015, Accepted 13 August 2015, Available online 1 October 2015
Highlights
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- We evaluate the use of homeopathy in organic dairy cattle in Spain.
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- The use of homeopathy in organic farms in Spain is low compared with other countries.
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- The main motivation for its use is the need to reduce chemical substances.
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- Somatic cell count (SCC) was significantly higher in farms using homeopathic treatments.
Organic
farming principles promote the use of unconventional therapies as an
alternative to chemical substances (which are limited by organic
regulations), with homeopathy being the most extensive. Traditionally,
Spain has had little faith in homeopathy but its use in organic farming
is growing. Fifty-six Spanish organic dairy farmers were interviewed to
obtain what we believe to be the first data on the use of homeopathy in
organic dairy cattle in Spain. Only 32% of farms use some sort of
alternative therapy (16.1% homeopathy, 10.7% phytotherapy and 5.3% using
both therapies) and interestingly, a clear geographical pattern showing
a higher use towards the East (similar to that in the human population)
was observed. The main motivation to use homeopathy was the need to
reduce chemical substances promoted by organic regulations, and the
treatment of clinical mastitis being the principle reason. The number of
total treatments was lower in farms using homeopathy compared with
those applying allopathic therapies (0.13 and 0.54 treatments/cow/year
respectively) and although the bulk SCC was significantly higher
(p < 0.001) in these farms (161,826 and 111,218 cel/ml, respectively)
it did not have any negative economical penalty for the farmer and milk
quality was not affected complying with the required standards; on the
contrary homeopathic therapies seems to be an alternative for reducing
antibiotic treatments, allowing farmers to meet the organic farming
principles.
Keywords
- Dairy cattle;
- Homeopathy;
- Organic farming;
- Somatic cell count
Copyright © 2015 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
