Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Organic Cow mastitis treatment

From Dairy-L,

"I am not an organic farmer but have heard of using particular types of honey. Manuka honey, made in New Zealand, has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also Ulmo honey from Chile is said to be "4 times more effective than the Manuka Honey at inhibiting the growth and development of Staphylococcus aureus and two times better for (Escherichia coli)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monofloral_honey. You could probably use a syringe (without a needle) or an old penicillin tube to administer it into the quarter.
Hope this helps,M BurgessNZ."

I am dumbstruck. I'd reply on Dairy-L but they won't let you be derisive.

9 comments:

Caleb said...

So that's why organic milk tastes so good.

I've had a couple lectures of "Organic" treatment of mastitis, and I'm fairly certain that honey wasn't mentioned.

I also like that it's "4 times more effective." What's four times zero again?

Mom said...

What was mentioned in the organic treatment lectures? I've often wondered if there are any organic treatments, besides homeopathy and "watchful waiting."

Dad said...

Rub the udder with manure.

You can also sanitize your milking equipment with manure. It's natural and doesn't have the harmful effects that a chemical like chlorine has.

Caleb said...

C&P from my notes, courtesy of the Organic Dairies guy:

Natural treatment for hot coliform mastitis:
• 200cc IV hyper-immune plasma (biologic)
i.e. BoviSeraTM
• 5cc Immunoboost® IM
• 90 cc IV Phyto-Biotic (garlic, ginseng, goldenseal, oregon grapeberry & barberry in dextrose)
• 250-500cc IV Vit. C
• 1-2 L. IV hypertonic saline (electrolytes)
• Topical essential oil of peppermint

PHYTO-MAST contains:
Contains: Gaultheria, Glyccyrhiza, Thymol (10%) Radix Angelica sinensis, Radix Angelica dahuricae, Oleum Brassica campestris q.s.

Treatment for an example case:

IV dextrose, 90cc herbal antibacterial tincture, 500cc vitamin C, 200cc hyperimmune plasma
• PhytoMast in quarter (farmer had been using it prior to examination)
• 15-20cc herbal antibiotic tincture 3 times daily for 4 days
• Left bottle of penicillin at farm to use if needed – at slightest sign of worsening - wasn't used.



So, basically, it might as well be honey.

Mom said...

What basis do these people have for concluding that Gaultheria, Glyccyrhiza, Thymol (10%) Radix Angelica sinensis, Radix Angelica dahuricae, or Oleum Brassica campestris q.s. are okay to insert into the udder, while antibiotics (which would clear the cow's system completely after the prescribed waiting time) are not? I'm serious -- is some kind of testing performed on these compounds? Do we know if they're safe for human consumption? Are there withholding times for the milk after these substances have been put in the udder? Or do the crunchy folk just assume that they are fine because they're "natural" (assuming that they are)? Even if there's data showing that these compounds don't stay in the cow's system and/or are harmless, there's also such data for conventional medications used in food animals. How come some medications are okay when others aren't? This is just so irrational, it makes my head spin.

Mom said...

Also, I believe we should name a calf Glyccyrhiza as soon as possible.

Dad said...

Mom, because balck is white and white is black. ABX, preservatives, nuclear power, vaccines, and GM food are all evil.

Caleb, can I post this protocol on Dairy-L?

jeremy said...

i think some of my farms are trying the honey thing i have seen culture samples look like a milk honey combination

Mom said...

For that matter, HONEY is not necessarily safe in milk. It can contain botulism spores dangerous to babies -- that's why you aren't supposed to feed it to kids under a year old (or maybe it's two years old now). Unlike adults, babies lack sufficient stomach acid to destroy the spores. Dad probably remembers the case back in the 80s where a toddler got botulism from eating organic Stonyfield Farm yogurt with honey in it. I don't think the child died, but as I recall, she came very close.

Actually, Dad, it might be a good idea to mention infant botulism on Dairy-L, if anybody seems to be giving serious consideration to the honey idea. It can be fatal and I wouldn't want to be the farmer dealing with the consequences.

People really need to try to use some sense. But I guess that's too much to ask . . .