herbal boosters / remedies for livestock

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herbal boosters / remedies for livestock

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gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 05 11:44 am Post subject: herbal boosters / remedies for livestock

now that i've started this Organic farming course, I see from the Soil Association Organic Standards tome that there is almost nothing about the use of (medicinal) herbs in livestock husbandry.

has anyone on this forum ever tried using herbs on their animals ? If so, what for, and with what results ?

I used to give my post-natal ewes buckets of weak fennel tea (said to improve milk production in humans). No rigorous testing was involved, so don't know whether it had any positive effect. But they were feeding their lambs no problem.

But I also confess to pulling a week-old lamb through pneumonia one night when I found the last couple of antibiotics I'd been given for a chest infection, and ground them up, and added minute amounts to his bottle feed every hour.

I'm thinking herbal remedies for animals is an under-developed area. Can't see many vets with knowledge / experience of herbal medicine either. Looks as though the official organic attitude is to minimise intervention unless direly necessary and then give conventional antibiotics / treatments. Or homeopathy (can see why, it's neat little pills again, as opposed to messy herbs)

can see all kinds of potential uses for herbs with livestock : worm / insect repellents; regular foot care; boosting health prior to conception / birth; addition of herbs containing essential minerals to winter feed.

2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 05 12:01 pm Post subject:

My dog came to me as a stray of sorts and had a very sore patch on his foot pad and leg that was weeping. Not knowing how long he'd be with me and who he belonged to I was reluctant to call a vet and so used aloe vera sap, straight from my plant on it and it healed no problems. As it turns out he's still here over a year later as his owner didn't want him back. I also used tea tree oil to treat wounds on 4 baby guinea pigs I took in who had very bad mite infestations and had badly scratched themselves trying to relive the itching.

I did read recently that garlic is often added to water to help control parasites in chickens and don't see why it wouldn't work for other animals too

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 05 2:49 pm Post subject:

i have given kaiser my smallest pygmy goat some willow withees to chew on now that his second teeth are coming in, they seem to hurt like childrens teeth and i know that willow is only aspirin in its natural form

also once or twice i have given the goats oak leaves if they have a bit of the runs and that stops them and i will let them have pot marigold and comfrey whenever they want.

i have also used tea tree oil for sore spots on the cats and epsom salts in the peacock food which helps birds through the moult if they get stuck - the last isn't herbal but is a bit more natural i guess

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 05 9:26 am Post subject:
My chickens seek out the bits of garlic that get throught the gap in their drinker: they seem to love it. I also put a small amount of cider vinegar in the water. I have a couple of birds in the hospital wing and they love yoghurt (home-made, as per Downsizer instructions) which, I hope, will balance their internal flora. Does anyone here use Poultry Spice? Does it work?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 05 1:35 pm Post subject:

I sucessfully treated a blind goat with echinacea & she recovered fully without any antibiotics

I also use Barrier Biotech Blowfly repel which is made from herbs & it works at least as good as the chemical equivalents.

First learnt about herbs in a lecture by David Hussey at Dodson & Horrell and have been convinced of their powers ever since. David is always on hand to advise on the best herbs to use & I usually get in touch with him before ordering (see the D&H website).

Ellie S

Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Northumberland

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 05 6:50 am Post subject:
Hi You might be interested to read an article in the Rasing Livestock section titled Animal Aromatics down on the Small Holding by Leigh Smythe. It also has a link to Leigh's web site. Hope this helps you.

2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 05 8:26 am Post subject:
I also used herbal flea drops on my dog and he's never had fleas so they seem to be working well

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