Conference proceedings article
Complementary and alternative medicine as a first line therapy in control of clinical mastitis
Publication Details
Authors: | Klocke, P.; Maeschli, A.; Ivemeyer, S.; Walkenhorst, M.; Notz, C.
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Editor: | Rahmann, Gerold; Godinho, Denise
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Book title: | Proceeding of 2nd Organic Animal Husbandry Conference, Hamburg/Trenthorst
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Abstract
The researchers collected and analysed clinical mastitis infection data in an udder health improvementprogramme in 68 Swiss organic dairy farms. Data for 247 non-antibiotic (complementary andalternative medicine; CAM) and 173 antibiotic (AB) treatment cycles were analysed. Animals wereplaced in the following categories: (AA) clinical cure and somatic cell count (SCC) <100.000/ml,(A) clinical cure and SCC <200.000/ml, (B) clinical cure and SCC >200.000/ml, (Cab) antibioticre-treatment, (Ccam) complementary or alternative re-treatment after therapy failure, and (D)culling. Animals were assigned to these categories at the second milk recording date. Distributiondifferences were significant (p<0.01). Improvement (AA+A) was higher after AB treatment comparedto CAM (67% vs. 49%). In the CAM group 13% of the cases (n=31) showed complete therapyfailure (cull, AB re-treatment) within 100 days observation period. 10 more cases (4%) receivedAB treatment and 11 cows (5%) were culled after this period not knowing the exact reason. Theworst case showed at least 79% of cows treated by CAM could be reintegrated into the herd withoutany antibiotic therapy. Even without a proof of CAM efficacy, implementation of CAM methods(such as homeopathy) into udder health control of organic dairy cows is a suitable concept to reduceantibiotics.
Keywords
antibiotics, complementary and alternative medicine, mastitis, udder health programme