Bibliografiska uppgifter för The use of alternative veterinary medicine in organic dairy farming

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1 Bibliografiska uppgifter för The use of alternative veterinary medicine in organic dairy farming Tidskrift/serie NJF Report Utgivare Nordiska jordbruksforskares frening (NJF) Utgivningsår 2005 Nr/avsnitt 1 Författare Hektoen L. Adress Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Ingår i... NJF-Seminar 369. Organic farming for a new millenium - status and future challenges Huvudspråk Engelska Målgrupp Forskare Nummer (ISBN, ISSN) ISSN

2 The use of alternative veterinary medicine in organic dairy farming L. Hektoen Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Po.box 8146 dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway Abstract Decreased use of chemical substances, e.g. antibacterial drugs, is a basic tenet of organic farming. In relation to disease treatment this is reflected in the regulations on organic livestock production, in which the use of natural medicines and methods is emphasised. Homeopathy is one of the methods explicitly mentioned in the EU-regulation 1804/99 on organic livestock production. Several studies have indicated that the use of homeopathy is considerable within organic farming, whereas other alternative therapies seem to be quite rare. Efficacy of alternative therapies is generally poorly documented and, particularly in the case of homeopathy, implausible seen from the point of view of the natural sciences. The use of homeopathy has therefore led to concerns that this use may exert an adverse influence on animal health and welfare. In this paper, a study addressing Norwegian dairy farmers motivation for utilisation of homeopathy is used as a background for discussing the relation between the organic regulations and the use of homeopathy, and furthermore the implications such use may have for animal health and welfare. Keywords: Alternative medicine, homeopathy, dairy farming, animal health and welfare Introduction Alternative veterinary medicine can be defined as the utilisation of alternative therapies in the treatment of diseased animals. Alternative therapies include modalities such as homeopathy, acupuncture and phytotherapy. Homeopathy is believed to be the alternative therapy most commonly applied in dairy herds. Alternative therapies are commonly regarded as holistic. The term holistic refers to the view that the combination of physical, psychological and social levels is important in relation to health protection and restoration, and also emphasises the body s capacity for self-repair and the influence of the external environment. The holistic approach is, along with the understanding of homeopathy as a mild, natural therapy without negative side effects, the background why organic farming and homeopathy are said to have similar views on health and disease (Vaarst et al, 2004). The use of homeopathy in organic dairy herds differs between countries, but may reach considerable proportions (Busato et al 2000, Weller & Bowling 2000). The use of homeopathy outside organic farming is poorly documented, but there are some indications that homeopathy is more commonly used in organic herds than in conventional herds. A survey among Norwegian organic dairy, beef and sheep farmers concluded that at least 15% of these used homeopathy as a part of the disease handling in the herd (Henriksen, 2002). In contrast, in a survey from 2000, 5.5% of the dairy farmers questioned (organic as well as conventional) stated to have used alternative therapies (Østerås, 2002). Hovi and Roderick (2000) also found homeopathy to be used more frequently on organic farms compared to conventional farms in the UK. 125

3 Homeopathy is emphasised in the EU-regulation 1804/99 on organic livestock production (CEC 1999). According to this regulation, section 5.4.a., the use of veterinary medicinal products in organic farming shall comply with the following principles: Phytotherapeutic (e.g. plant extracts (excluding antibiotics), essences, etc.), homeopathic products (e.g. plant, animal or mineral substances) [.] shall be used in preference to chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics, provided that their therapeutic effect is effective for the species of animal, and the condition for which the treatment is intended. The regulation restricts the use of homeopathy or other alternative therapies to situations in which the treatment is effective for the current animal species and condition. The efficacy of homeopathic treatments is not accepted as scientifically documented (Hektoen, 2004a). However, effective may be a question of the readers, e.g. the farmers, interpretation, and the organic regulations are purported to encourage and increase the utilisation of homeopathy (de Verdier et al., 2003, Hovi, 2002, Hammarberg, 2001). This has created concerns that such treatments are used to the exclusion of conventional treatments, and that this may influence animal welfare adversely (Ekesbo, 2000, Hammarberg 2001). In this paper, a study addressing Norwegian dairy farmers motivation for utilisation of homeopathy is used as a background for discussing the relation between principles and regulations of organic husbandry and the use of homeopathy, and to address the implications such use may have for animal health and welfare. Material and methods Qualitative research interviews were used to address the question of why and how dairy farmers use homeopathy. Eighteen Norwegian dairy farmers utilising homeopathy as a major part of their herd health management were interviewed (Hektoen, 2004b). For 17 of the herds, health and production data from the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording system were compared to that of 77 control herds matched on herd size and municipality, with emphasis on udder health and milk production. In the last herd, the use of homeopathy had been discontinued. This herd was therefore not included in the comparative part of the study. Results In the 18 study herds, homeopathy was the first choice of treatment, and was considered as an alternative to conventional veterinary treatment in all disease cases (Hektoen 2004b). The farmers generally carried out the homeopathic treatments themselves, without the involvement of veterinarians. However, they did not exclude the use of conventional veterinary treatment. Homeopathy was used as an alternative to conventional veterinary treatment for the individual disease case, while the two comprised complementary treatment approaches at herd level. Farmers use of homeopathic treatment for personal health problems and the experience of their colleagues with use in dairy production were important factors motivating the initial use of homeopathy. Other factors included a desire to decrease the use of antibacterial drugs, reduce costs and find alternatives when conventional veterinary medicine had no good solutions to offer (typically high somatic cell counts). Experience of clinical efficacy, the farmers personal satisfaction by being the one curing the animal and the feeling of personal control in the disease situation were important factors for continuing the use of homeopathy. 126

4 Mastitis was the most common indication for homeopathic treatment, and in two of the herds it was used for mastitis only. For the individual diseased animal, the severity of disease, the farmers previous experiences from similar cases, personal knowledge and available time were important factors influencing the choice between homeopathic and conventional veterinary treatment (Hektoen, 2004b). The relationship between homeopathy and organic farming was addressed in the interviews with the six organic farmers. One of them related the use of homeopathy directly to the conversion to organic production. The other farmers had been using homeopathy prior to the conversion and stated that they used homeopathy independently of this. However, they saw links between organic farming and homeopathy; the desire to decrease the use of chemical substances was viewed as a common underlying factor for both. No significant differences in milk yield, bulk milk somatic cell count or culling rates between the herds utilising homeopathy and the control herds were found. The prevalence of mastitis pathogens and dry quarters in the herds using homeopathic treatments was comparable to that previously found in Norwegian dairy herds. The incidence rates of conventional veterinary disease treatments were significantly lower in the study herds, both for the sum of all diagnoses (p<<0.01) and for clinical mastitis (p<<0.01). There were no significant differences between organic and conventional herds. Discussion The interview study revealed the importance of the farmers personal motivation and experiences in the choice of treatment. The utilisation of homeopathy has effects beyond the potential effects of the remedies. These include the farmers satisfaction and sense of control through personal involvement in disease handling, the ability to do something when there are no good conventional alternatives, and an opportunity to decrease the use of antibacterial drugs. For the farmers included in this study, the organic regulations as such were not an important motivational factor for the use of homeopathy. Rather, the desire to reduce the use of chemical substances seems to be a common underlying factor for going organic as well as using homeopathic treatments. This indicates that personal values and beliefs are more important for the decision to use homeopathy than regulations. The specific effect of homeopathic remedies is not scientifically plausible or documented, and the role of homeopathy in treatment of mastitis is most likely that its utilisation allows natural resolution of mastitis signs to take place, without this exerting significant influence on the outcome as compared to the outcome after antibacterial treatment. The results regarding health and production indicate a potential for substantial decreases in the use of antibacterial drugs in mastitis handling in general. Considerable differences are exhibited in health and production between the herds, both among those in which homeopathic treatments are used and among those in which they are not, indicating that in relation to udder health, factors other than choice of therapy are more important to address (Hektoen 2004a). Conclusions The farmers personal experiences and beliefs are important in the choice of treatment. Independent of efficacy, the homeopathic remedies help the farmers fulfil their aim to reduce the use of antibacterial drugs. The results indicate that the implementation of homeopathy in the herd health management, and the ensuing decreased use of antibacterial drugs, do not have 127

5 negative impact on health and production of any practical significance. As far as these results can be used as welfare parameters, it is indicated that the utilisation of homeopathy does not influence animal welfare adversely. However, preventive measures should be the main focus in future research on udder health in organic dairy production. References Busato, A., Trachsel, P., Schällibaum, M. and Blum J. W. (2000) Udder health and risk factors for subclinical mastitis in organic dairy farms in Switzerland. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 44, CEC (1999) Council Regulation No. 1804/1999 supplementing Regulation No 2092/91 on organic production. Official Journal of the European Communities L 222, de Verdier, K., Öhagen, P. and Alenius, S. (2003) No effect of a homeopathic preparation on neonatal calf diarrhoea in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia 44, Ekesbo, I. (2000). Förekomst och konsekvenser av homeopati på husdjur. Svensk Veterinärtidning 52, Hammarberg, K. E. (2001) Animal welfare in relation to standards in organic farming. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia Supplement 95, Hektoen, L. (2004a). Homeopathic treatment of farm animals Studies of utilisation effects and implications for animal health and welfare. PhD-thesis. Oslo, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences. Pp 168. Hektoen, L. (2004b). Investigations of the motivation underlying Norwegian dairy farmers use of homeopathy. Veterinary Record 155, Henriksen, B. I. F. (2002) Stor interesse for homeopati og urtemedisin hos norske økobønder. Praksisnytt 7, Hovi, M. (2002) Alternative therapy use on UK organic farms - constraints and pitfalls. In Positive health: preventive measures and alternative strategies. Proceedings from the 5th NAHWOA Workshop, November 2001, Rødding, Denmark, Hovi, M. and Roderick, S. (2000) Mastitis and mastitis control strategies in organic milking. Cattle Practice 8, Vaarst, M., Martini, A., Bennedsgaard T. W. and Hektoen, L. (2004) Approaches to treatment of diseased animals. In: M. Vaarst, S. Roderick, V. Lund, W. Lockeretz. (eds.) Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture. Wallingford, CABI Publishing Weller, R. F. and Bowling, P. J. (2000) Health status of dairy herds in organic farming. Veterinary Record 146, Østerås, O. (2002) Notering og bruk av helsekortene for storfe i Norsk Veterinærtidsskrift 114,