Kumar S K1, Deepa P M2, Punniamurthy N3, MNB Nair4
Key words: Veterinary Ayurveda, Ethnoveterinary Practices, Dry cow therapy, Organic milk, Mastitis
Role of Livestock in Sustainable Agriculture IAHA Pre-Conference on Organic Animal Husbandry November 7-8, 2017 linked to the 19th Organic World Congress, New Delhi, India, November 9-11, 2017 Organized by IAHA, FiBL, OFAI, NCOF, ICAR-IVRI , ANTHRA, IFOAM
Acknowledgments
My sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Deepa P M, Assistant Professor, Department Preventive Medicine, KVASU, to Prof Punniamurthy. N, Prof and Head, (VUTRC- TANUVAS) and to Dr. MNB Nair, Emeritus Professor Transdisciplinary University (TDU).
Introduction
Bovine mastitis is one of the important production diseases of dairy animals which directly or indirectly affect the economy of the farmers and ultimately affect the economy of the country. Despite this fact, where state or provincial census data are available, herd prevalence levels range from 11% (Alberta, 1991) to 47% (Vermont, 1985)1. The dairy industry in particular, plays a strong role for the livelihood of poor people because the availability of agricultural land is shrinking and farmers are increasingly dependent upon the dairy sector. The livestock capital as part of the overall agricultural capital amounts to more than a quarter. Estimated losses of $200/cow/year on average is 12% of what: Direct losses from clinical mastitis, 17%: Lost milk due to elevated SCC, 35%: Excess culling and death, 36%: Price reduction with elevated SCC (Fetrow et al., 2000).
Ethno-veterinary practice (EVP)2 or Ayurveda can address the current problem through
intervention, preventing the mastitis during the dry period. EVP has decentralized local resource based applications which are both safe, efficacious & have much fewer adverse effects in
the animals3. The objective of the current study is to assess the efficacy of ethno veterinary formulations in prevention of mastitis during dry period under field conditions.
Material and methods
The present study was conducted in North Bangalore, (BAMUL) of KMF.
Sample design: Simple random design techniques were used to allocate the animals for each group. The selection of animals was based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. Informed consent was taken from the owner of the animals. The study period was 45 days plus 5 days after lactation
Inclusion criteria Exclusion criteria
Breed of the animal: cross breed Native breeds Age of the animal: greater than 3 years Less than 3 years
Calving status: first calving onwards First calving and after 5 calving
Parameters for Assessment
1. Milk 2. Nature of udder
Color Swelling/Hard mass Consistency Tenderness
pH
Table 1: Study grouping SL No Group Number Drug Intervention No of Animals Dose
1 I Ayurveda (Ethnoveterinary) Formulation For single day application
20 250 gms of Aloe vera
50 gms of Curcuma longa
10 gms of calcium hydroxide
2 II Modern Medicine (Dry cow therapy) Ampiclox oil base
20 Single Dose 3 III Control 20 NA
Method application of and drug preparation:
The Ayurveda (Ethnoveterinary) formulation consisting of Aloe vera 250 gm, Curcuma longa 50 gm and Calcium hydroxide.
Preparation: Take 250 gm of Aloe vera fresh leaves clean with fresh water, remove the thorns and the sides of the leaf blade and cut into small pieces, add 50 gm Curcuma longa powder to it and 10 gm Calcium hydroxide, grind well without adding any water. Divide the paste into two parts. Take one part of the paste, add 500 ml of water and stir well so that the ingredients are well-mixed. Clean the udder with fresh water and apply this watery paste across the udder with gentle massage. The prepared medicine is applied twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The evening application is carried out with the remaining one part adding 500 ml of water to the paste, preparing a watery solution and applying on the udder as above, through the dry period.
The antibiotic group was treated with Ampiclox (Ampicillin+Cloxacillin) in an oil base. The drug is inoculated intramammary and retained throughout the dry period. The control group was not treated with any type of medication
Method of milk sample collection: • Day -0 (Partial drying off)
• Day – 15(Complete drying off)
• Day of calving
• 5th day after calving.
Results
A Comparative three group controlled field level study. Milk colour and consistency: the colour of the milk was normal on partial day of drying in all the three groups. On complete drying day, there was a slight change in the colour of two animals in the control groups. On the day of calving there was slight yellowish colour of the milk in the animals of all groups, but after 5th day of calving the colour and consistency was normal in EVP group. The nature of the udder was very soft and no hard mass felt during the intervention and post intervention in EVP group. In the antibiotic group there were slight changes in the contour of the udder on two days prior to calving in three animals and on the day of calving in two animals.
Table 1: Comparison of pH and SCC in three groups studied
EVP group (I) Antibiotic group(II) Control group(III) P value EVP vs. Antibiotic
pH 5.69±0.80 6.18±0.77 5.43±0.72 <0.001** <0.001** SCC 1.48±0.74 1.60±0.61 2.08±1.06 <0.001** 0.628
SCC is significantly less in EVP compared to Control and Antibiotic. pH is significantly less in EVP (5.69) compared to 6.18 in Antibiotics group with P<0.001**.
The comparison of SCC and milk pH in the different groups (Tables 2 &3), showed significantly low(P<0.001**) SCC and milk pH in Group I (EVP ) compared to group II ( antibiotic)
Table 2: Comparison of variables in three groups studied: Day of partial drying
Day of partial drying EVP group (I) Antibiotic group (II) Control group (III) Total P value
pH 6.16±0.67 6.83±0.30 5.48±0.79 6.16±0.83 <0.001** SCC 2.00±1.17 1.33±0.57 1.68±0.85 1.67±0.92 0.069+
Table 3: Comparison of variables in three groups studied: Day of complete drying Day of complete
drying EVP group (I) Antibiotic group (II) Control group (III) Total P value
pH 5.66±0.83 6.69±0.63 5.56±0.71 5.97±0.88 <0.001** SCC 1.48±0.55 1.50±0.69 2.13±1.37 1.70±0.97 0.054+
Table 4: Comparison of variables in three groups studied: Day of Calving
Day of Calving EVP group (I) Antibiotic group (II) Control group (III) Total P value
pH 5.51±0.76 5.67±0.60 5.31±0.63 5.50±0.67 0.240 SCC 1.25±0.34 1.90±0.60 2.15±0.95 1.77±0.77 <0.001**
Table 5: Comparison of variables in three groups studied: 5th day of calving
5th day of calving EVP group (I) Antibiotic group (II) Control group (III) Total P value
pH 5.45±0.79 5.53±0.45 5.36±0.76 5.44±0.67 0.747 SCC 1.18±0.24 1.65±0.46 2.35±0.95 1.73±0.78 <0.001**
Chi square tests also indicated significantly lower SCC and milk pH in group I compared to Group II (table 1). Comparison of milk pH and SCC at different time periods, showed that on the day of partial drying, significantly higher SCC and pH in group I (table 2) and day of complete drying (table 3), on day of calving and 5th day calving has less SCC and pH (table 4 &5). The pH has linear trend of decreasing with increasing day of drying. (Table no 2,3,4 &5).
The study revealed better response in reduction of milk pH and SCC in EVP group compared to standard treatment with antibiotic.
The Ethnoveterinary preparation used as a dry cow therapy was found to be effective in preventing mastitis was it or was it effective in lowering SCC and pH.
The efficacy of the Ethnoveterinary formulation consisting of Aloe vera, Curcuma longa and
Calcium hydroxide is likely due to the rational combination of the herbs and healing properties of these herbs. This formulation improves the status of metabolism (Agni deepana), cleanses the toxins of whole animal and the udder (Ama pachana), pacifies the aggravated Pitta dosha and Raktha dooshya5 (Pitta and Raktha Shamaka), cleanses the channels of lactiferous glands (Srotoshodaka). Cleanses the wounds of Lactiferous glands (Vrana shodaka and ropaka), pacifies the inflammation due to Infection (Shothahara) and Decreases the microbial load (Krimihara). Many research articles have confirmed the pharmacological activities of these herbs and their anti- inflammatory6, antimicrobial, analgesic and galactopurifying actions.
References
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1986; 6:129–149.
3. Martin M, Mathias E, McCorkle CM, Ethnoveterinary medicine: An annotated bibliography of community animal healthcare. Essex, England: ITDG Publishing; 200.
4. Punniamurthy N, MNB Nair, Kumar S K: user guide on Ethnoveterinary Practices, TransDisciplinary University publication, first edition 2016, chapter no1 page no 3.
5. Charaka Samhitha of Agnivesha, Revised by Charaka and Drudabala with Ayurveda Dipika commentary of Chakradatta edited by Vaidya Jadavji Trikamji Acharya, fifth edition 1992, Munshiram manoharlal publishers pvt ltd.
6. Li CY1,2, Suzuki K3, Hung YL4, Yang MS5, Yu CP6, Lin SP5, Hou YC5,7,8, Fang SH9. Aloe
Metabolites Prevent LPS-Induced Sepsis and Inflammatory Response by Inhibiting Mitogen- Activated Protein Kinase Activation.Am J Chin Med. 2017;45(4):847-861. doi: 10.1142/ S0192415X17500458. Epub 2017 May 11.
Abstract
India is already leading in high value organic crops and is also keen to promote organic animal husbandry due to rising global demand for the organic livestock products. However, the standards are not yet known to the stakeholders indicating the need for the capacity building. Organic producers need to be familiar with livestock standards, well versed in good livestock production practices and regulatory requirements applicable to production prescribed by the designated authorities such as APEDA, BIS, FSSAI etc. Organic crop producers in India often also maintain some livestock and many would like to venture into livestock production. This drives a need for empowered advisors about organic livestock production. A study in Andhra Pradesh emphasized the need of capacity building of both the field veterinarians and farmers who had medium
perception towards the organic dairy standards. This paper, thus, deals with the need and the means of empowering the main stakeholders of organic dairy production.