Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Animal Health
This chapter contains information on animal
health and it covers a wide range of infor-
mation from management to ensure good
animal health followed by specific problems,
their causes and characteristics, prevention
measures, and treatment for acute cases.
Material was gathered from many sources,
and many people have given us information
and treatments that has worked for them. It
is collection of information to help you better
understand aspects of animal health and some
options you have. We do not claim to have
found every treatment, and we do not claim
to have used them all. They are guidelines only.
Any treatment could be succesful depending
on appropriate materials, knowledge and
method of administration at the time.
At all times, however, we must remember our obliga-
tions to provide the five freedoms under the Animal
Welfare Act Code of Practice:
1. Proper and sufficient food and water
2. Adequate shelter
3. The opportunity to display normal patterns of
behaviour
4. Appropriate physical handling
5. Protection from, and rapid diagnosis of injury and
disease
Animal health and stock
management
• Good stock management is essential
• Observe and evaluate
• Inform yourself of the range of remedies available
• Use professionals for advice, especially for diagnosis
• No animal must suffer
• Animals need time to adjust to organics.
Good stock management combined with healthy soil,
balanced pasture, shade, shelter and water, results in
good animal health with few problems. The same good
management principals used on conventional farms need
to be applied in an organic system too. However, the
organic farmer needs to take a ‘step back’ and look at
what he or she is doing with the animal within the whole
farm system.
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The selection process over the last 100 years has led to higher
yielding animals within an environment that is modified from
their natural habitat. A cow in the wild was designed to
generally raise 1 calf to weaning per year, which equates to
production of around 100kg milk solids. We are trying to now
extract >400kgMS/cow, 4 times what it was designed to do.
We make cows walk around farms to and from cowsheds.
They are designed to roam and forage quietly and slowly. The
rumen is typically designed to break down fibrous, bulky and
starchy feeds through bacteria and microorganisms, and we
are changing the diet radically to a more soluble carbohydrate/
protein base. Cows were not native to NZ. We now have
animals modified through selection with greater demands put
on them. The following section will give information on some
of the things you need to do to create the healthiest possible
environment for your animals.
Because of the demands on animals today, there is a need for
better management to enable the production levels expected
to be achieved: management of pastures, ensuring the animals
have adequate grass and water, and that they are well fed at
all times. Good stockmanship is also important for the physical
and mental well being of the animals.
Observations are also important. Stand back and look at the
whole picture. Ask yourself questions and find possible reasons
and answers, then look for the solutions. Why did this happen
and when? What has caused this? What options do I have to
solve this problem? Which ones do I use or try? Who can I talk
to? What can I do to prevent it happening again?
Often a problem surfaces, and if you stand back for a while
to see what happens and observe (instead of using first aid
immediately) the problem sorts itself out. That does not mean,
however, that you have right to let an animal suffer. Some
animals do not have the natural ability to fit into an organic
regime and this usually comes out as an animal health problem.
The suggestion is that if that animal shows repeated weakness,
cull or sell her, and question whether to keep her offspring.
Preventative measures are the key to many outbreaks; and
tonics, herbal remedies and some homoeopathic remedies
are effective in this. Feeding your animals appropriately and
ensuring they are healthy is still the number one strategy. For
acute cases, homoeopathy and some herbal remedies can be
effective.
Stocking rates need also to be considered for healthy animals.
Noone can tell you what the stocking rate for your farm should
be, as each farm is different, but you are the best judge of what
stocking rate ensures the animals are contented and have
adequate feed to remain a good condition score and healthy.
It is also really important to develop a good relationship with
a vet sympathetic to alternative remedies, as there will be
times when you need him/her, especially for diagnosis. A good
homeopath or herbalist is another valuable contact person.
The longer you spend working through building up an organic
system, the more metabolic problems in stock disappear, and as
a result you deal with less and less problems as time goes by.
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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
Stock management
• Have plan A and Plan B organised on how you are going
to convert with the aim of having strong, healthy soil;
strong, diverse pasture; and healthy well fed stock.
• Plan your fertiliser regime and include any nutrition short-
falls
• Consider the animal health problems you already have and
how you are going to deal with them.
• Watch your grazing patterns. Feed your young stock well.
• Consider your stock numbers.
• Observe your grass and its growth patterns. Feed it with
liquid fertiliser
• Avoid nitrogen problems by using fish fertiliser wisely
• Liquid seaweed is a good conditioner
• Test, measure and observe the mineral status of your herd,
plants and soils.
• Allow for supplements or crops for times of feed pinches
• Source supplementary feed to fill shortfalls in nutrition.
Work with your organic advisor or certifying agency on
this. They are allowed but there are conditions.
• You can buy in 10% conventional stock each year. There
are conditions, however.
• Animal health problems generally change from metabolic
problems to environmental.
• When a problem occurs stand back, look and think about
it. Evaluate the situation. Why has it arisen? What can be
done now? What are the alternative remedies? What can
be done in the future to prevent this reoccurring?
• Think laterally, be observant, talk to others, have strategies
and plans.
• If you are not getting a response to therapy, conventional
treatment can and must be used to ensure that the animal
doesn’t suffer. Check with your certifier about how to
manage an animal that has had a prohibited or restricted
treatment.
Liver samples are current preferred indicators for:
Selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co)
Blood tests are current preferred indicators for:
Zinc (Zn) and Iodine (I)
Most of the good stock management practices used by
conventional farmers apply to organic farming. So keep
practicing these skills and continue to learn them.
Having adequate grass ahead of you is important. This includes
good quality grass with fibre. A variety of species in your
pasture will ensure this. Having reserves of supplementary
feed is also important for the periods you know the grass
will be inadequate. Organic grass often can be shorter, but
should still have adequate energy levels. Liquid fertilisers
64
can help the situation, although be aware of putting on no
more than the recommended amount of fish fertiliser as it
contains nitrogen and an excess can create an imbalance in
the soil microorganisms. Seaweed fertilisers contain many other
elements and it is a plant and soil conditioner, strengthening the
plant. Biodynamic preparations enhance the balance of good
soil and pasture and, in turn, nutrition. The use of compost,
vermicast and compost teas also help. A refractometer will give
you a reading of the energy levels of your grass.
Watch your grazing patterns. Don’t forget that calves and
heifers need good constant feed. Also allow for grazing to
avoid worm damage to calves. (Graze them on longer grass in
front of cows.) Always watch and evaluate your stock. Think of
the time of the year and the rate of growth.
Observe your grass and its growth patterns. Biodynamic
(Demeter) farmers do notice there is more growth during an
ascending phase of their biodynamic calendar (see Biodynamics
section) which occurs every two weeks each month, and not
much growth during the descending phase.
As you move from a conventional to organic system, there
are times when the grass becomes less available due to the
pastures adjusting to an organic regime. This can be allevi-
ated or avoided depending on your level of dependence on
chemicals. Many farmers try to go straight into a total organic
strategy (also known as cold turkey). This can put you back, so
it may be prudent for your particular situation to consider taking
2 or more extra years to reach a full organic system. This could
minimise financial and production problems, as well as reducing
animal health problems during the transition period. Use this
time to get your soil in optimum balance.
You can assist the transition process by planning a fertiliser
strategy to change from superphosphate to RPR while at the
same time keeping all other soil test elements in balance.
Incorporate mixed herbage when renovating pasture
– remember you are trying to introduce variety into your
pastures. Involve your fertiliser rep and your farm advisor with
your planning. Talk to other organic farmers about their experi-
ences and attend field–days to gather information. Also see
the Soil Chapter and plan a strategy to make this transition
smoother.
Allow for supplements in times of feed pinches, just as you
would do on a conventional farm. If you are able to make
your own, or can source organic feed, this will make it easier.
Otherwise 10% brought in feed from conventional sources
based on the annual dry matter requirements of your stock over
the 12–month period can be brought in to the farm, depending
on your certifying agent. Please remember to get a letter stating
any treatment that was had on the material and if there is any
GE involved. If there was none, a letter is still required stating
that. This feed can also only be fed as 10% to 25% of their daily
requirements, depending on what your certifying agency’s rules
are. It is not allowed as a matter of course each year, but only
for times of shortages. Therefore, you must plan to avoid these.
If that is not possible, talk to your organic advisor or certifying
agency to see what you can do. If in doubt, check first.
Crops are a good option and can still be grown using mechan-
ical methods to keep weeds under control. If you choose the
right crops, they can be either grazed or made into silage.
See the Environmental Chapter for tips on growing crops. It is
important to remember to look after the soil as best you can
when cropping.
You may need at times to source shortfalls in nutrition (e.g.
copper, selenium, molasses). Trace elements can be added to
fertiliser. Get levels as realistic as possible before applying for
certification. When applying for certification you will need to
present a management plan if further supplements are needed.
They can also be added to mineral or salt blocks. Check with
your certifying agency first. Some nutritional supplements such
as molasses or other materials may be permitted under specific
conditions if certified free of GE and calculated within the
10% of brought-in feed. Contact your certifying agency before
buying re procedures and permission.
When considering converting look at your stocking rates. It is
probably better to be slightly understocked than to run the risk
of having too many. After a while you will find the right balance.
Remember, unless there is another source of certified organic
grazing off farm, or certified organic stock that can be bought
in, you may have to look at having all stock on the farm.
Will you need to cut down on the number of milking cows
to accommodate your young stock and do things well? If the
answer is yes, what priorities are you going to put on your
culling – high SCC cows? Low fertility cows? Mastitis or cows
with bad feet? Low producers? As a general principal it is a
good idea to identify problems you already have and cull these
out or deal with them as much as possible to avoid further
problems. If, during conversion, problems occur and the cull
rate is higher than normal, put another plan into action to
replace any necessary animals. Remember, bought in animals
(conventional) are certified for milk 12 months after arriving
on the farm, but will never be certified for meat. Therefore if
this happens, in beginning conversion, producing cows may be
the answer if your milk will not be sold as organic for up to 12
months. Otherwise, yearlings grazed for 12 months could be
the answer if you are nearer conversion and you can anticipate
the problem.
The certifying agencies generally allow 10% bought in conven-
tional stock each year. Calves can be bought as 4–7day olds
and gain certification after 12 months provided they did not
have any prohibited substances (antibiotics etc.) before you
received them. A letter is needed stating this. Conventional
cows and calves (4–7 days old) can be bought in as mentioned
previously. The calves are organic for meat, the cows for milk
after 12 months, but the cows never for meat. In times of
extremes, e.g. drought, flood, poor calving performance, and
high infertility, you can get an exemption from the 10% from
your certifying agency after presenting a management plan.
They will be happy to work it through with you.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Fibre content of a ruminant diet
Fibre content of a cows diet is frequently overlooked
these days and yet it holds the key to cow health. A
cows main stomach – the rumen – works best in a narrow
pH range. When the pH remains steady all the many
different types of microbes in this big chamber get on
with their business in helping to start the breakdown of
the plant material eaten. If the pH strays below 6.5 or
go above 7 it indicates a problem. Cows fed on grain
can have a rumen pH between 5 and 6 but should it fall
below 5 there are serious consequences.
How can we tell if the diet contains enough fibre?
We could send the plant material away to a laboratory and get
an indication this way but this takes time and is costly. It is
not uncommon for the result to indicate that the diet contains
enough fibre and yet when you go and look at the cows they
indicate that all is not well.
The cow can tell us in two different ways that her diet has
enough fibre.
Cud chewing. Take the time to watch the herd after they
have had their morning fill of pasture etc. (3 or more hours
access to a new paddock) and see how many are chewing their
cud (assuming that they are not asleep, drinking, licking other
cows, bulling etc.). As a guide you should have 60 to 70%
of your herd chewing their cud. They should chew each cud
about 30 times and then swallow it and there should be two
cuds (regurgitations of rumenal contents) for each minute. If
cows are not chewing their cud then the rumen microbe factory
is not a happy camp. Veterinarians typically see chronic
lameness and mastitis problems in herds with dysfunctional
rumens. If you wish to limit these problems modify the diet
and let the cow tell you when you have got it right – 2 cuds
per minute and 60 to 70% of the cows cud chewing after 3 or
more hours post eating.
Dung consistency. The second way the cow tells us
that her diet has enough fibre is by what is coming out the rear
end! When her dung falls on the ground you should hear a
plop, plop sound and if she is stationary the dung should form a
pile. If the dung comes out and hits the ground six feet behind
the cow and disappears out of sight on pasture or runs away
on a concrete slope you should be trying to determine what
is wrong and rectifying the problem. There could be many
causes for this type of dung but if parasitism, Johne’s disease,
other infectious causes (Yersinia, Salmonella, Coccidosis etc),
and excess nitrogen and poisonings are discounted then look
to see if adequate fibre is present in the diet.
What has fibre in it?
Mature pasture (summer) has a higher fibre content in it
compared to immature pasture. Hay and straw are an excellent
source of fibre. To be effective the plant stem lengths have
to be over 3 cm long – if you have chopped a fibrous plant up
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General tools for animal

(maize for example) into small pieces to compact it in a pit you
do not have long fibres present! You now have to provide health Homoeopathy
this fibre if the grass or the other components of the diet do
not provide enough. Straw (or hay if you don’t have straw) Animal remedies laws: This section is based on
contributions by Tineke
should be fed with From Neil Kennington, Assessor, ACVM Group, NZ Food
Verkade and Heather
maize silage or with Safety Authority:
Stewart.
any high carbohydrate August 2003. (This act may change from time to time)
containing foodstuff
Homoeopathy is
for cows at a rate of Under the ACVM Act agricultural compounds a gentle, effective
up to 1kg per cow per including veterinary medicines used on animals have system of healing, which assists the natural tendency of
day. It is imperative
to be registered unless they are exempt. the body to heal itself.
that the cow chews
her cud to make the There are three exemptions, which are particularly
many tens of litres relevant to organic farmers: Homoeopathic remedies stated throughout this Resource
of saliva required to • Schedule 1 exemption number 1 allows Guide are recorded from experience and use by various
neutralise the acid pH people. There is, however, no scientific data to back up
the use of compounds prepared by a
which develops with the results as yet. They are to be used to aid recovery, but
person for use by the person on animals
the breakdown of should the animal need other treatments, these should
and plants on land or water occupied by
these rapidly digest-
the person. This is subject to a code of also be given. We suggest you inform yourself further by
ible food types in the
practice which is approved under the act attending a course or finding a good reference book on
rumen. If this is
and can be found omn the ACVM web site. homoeopathy.
not provided you will
have cows with many • Schedule 2 oral and topical homoeo-
This section provides a summary of the main tools
types of rumen microflora that would have been killed off by the • Based on a gentle system of healing.
available to the organic farmer for dealing with specific pathic preparations which do not make
acidic pH, cows with belly ache and increased numbers of cows • Based on the principle ‘like cures like’
animal health problems. In all cases a fairly brief claims for diseases characterised by pain or
with bowel upsets like displaced abomasum, bowel torsion
summary is given, which is enough to get you started. distress in animals. • It is cheap, effective
etc. These types of problems were once rarely seen in dairy
However, it is strongly recommended that you form
veterinary practice in New Zealand but are commonplace now. • Schedule 2 plant and unrefined plant • Thousands of remedies are available
your own opinions about what works for you and what
Lameness can follow weeks to months after an acute or severe extracts which do not make claims for
doesn’t, by reading more widely and giving things a go • Each remedy is individual so keep trying until you
rumen upset with problems resulting from subclinical laminitis diseases characterised by pain or distress
on your own farm. Always remember, however, that the get the right one
with the white line of the foot revealing defects. in animals.
welfare of the animal is paramount. It may take you a • Get a good homoeopathic book and find a helpful
Don’t overlook fibre content in a cows diet! little time to gain confidence and get things right – don’t The web site is www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/ homoeopath
A sign an animal has enough fibre in her diet is: let your animals suffer in the meantime.
1. ‘Trip up’ cow pats Regulations can be found at • Attend a course to learn all about it.
The most widely used tools are the practices of homoeopathy
2. 60–70% chewing their cuds when www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/legislation/
and herbal medicine. Homoeopathy has been around for more
otherwise not occupied. 2001r101–1.pdf
than 100 years and many farmers in New Zealand are now
using homoeopathy successfully. The use of herbal medicine The relevant code is Introduction
has been existence from the beginnings of recorded human
history. Cider vinegar is a proven treatment and is a mainstay www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/subject/codes– Traditionally, homoeopathy has been used to treat illnesses
for organic farmers. The use of colloidal silver is a conten- of–practice/own–compounds.pdf of people using homoeopathic preparations determined by a
tious subject and it is recommended that with this subject in careful building of the ‘symptom picture’ for each individual.
particular you inform yourselves as much as possible. The ACVM Act has strong links with other legisla- Many farmers are becoming aware of the possibilities of
tion such as the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal using homoeopathy as an alternative means of looking after
Products Act. It should be noted that while products health in their stock, either by learning about homoeopathy
NOTE: The word ‘remedy’ is used frequently in this
may be available without claims for specific diseases themselves or consulting a homoeopath specialising in the care
chapter, particularly in relation to homoeopathy. The
the owner takes the responsibility for using these of animals.
term ‘homoeopathic remedy’ has widespread use products of label and any consequences resulting from
throughout international homoeopathic literature and There are two approaches to the use of homoeopathy with
inadequate treatment either under the ACVM Act or the
animals. One is to use it as a means to encourage the immune
the word remedy is used here to maintain consistency Welfare Act. The 5 Animal Freedoms under the Animal
systems of animals to repair themselves, and the other is to use
with established terminology. In this context the word Welfare Act can be seen at the beginning of this Animal
it to optimise good health in the stock during ‘at risk’ times so
remedy is used by its broader dictionary definition, Health chapter.
that the animals are much less likely to develop poor health in
not its specific interpretation in New Zealand animal the first place.
remedies law.
There are products now available for applying homoeopathy
to animal health issues that are easy to use, do not involve the

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need to learn about homoeopathy and which offer methods of
application of the products which are simple and do not require
the training and supervision of staff.
Whichever approach or service farmers use, homoeopathy can
offer significant savings for farmers and is particularly useful
for farmers converting to formal certified organic methods of
farming, or just a preference for biological methods which don’t
involve pharmaceuticals.
What is homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy is a gentle, effective and scientifically based
system of healing that assists the natural defence mechanism
of the body heals itself.
A central principle of the homoeopathic approach is that every
being is unique and the treatment must be tailored to the indi-
vidual on all levels – physical, emotional and mental.
Homoeopathy seeks to heal in accordance with natural laws of
healing and uses substances from the mineral, animal and plant
kingdoms to make remedies.
The history of homoeopathy
The founder of homoeopathy was Samuel Hahnemann, a
German physician and scholar (1755–1843). Hahnemann
became disillusioned with the practice of medicine of his
day because of the harsh and brutal treatments such as
cauterising, mercury treatment, bleeding, purging and blis-
tering. These treatments were relatively ineffective as cures
and caused terrible side effects for the patients. As a result,
Hahnemann gave up the practice of medicine and began to
translate medical books in order to earn his living. It was while
translating Dr William Cullen’s book Lectures on the Materia
Medica that Hahnemann found what was to become the key
to the development of homoeopathy. In this work Cullen
claimed that the substance cinchona bark, from which quinine
is extracted, cured intermittent fever (malaria). He stated that
the cure was effected because of the astringent and bitter
qualities of cinchona bark. Hahnemann was sceptical of this
explanation and tested small doses of the cinchona bark on
himself. He observed that he developed similar symptoms
to those of malaria. After further testing the substance on
many people, Hahnemann concluded that cinchona bark, in
a healthy person (one who did not have malaria), showed
similar symptoms to this disease. This was the first proving of
a substance. Hahnemann went on to experiment with many
more substances in the same manner. He observed and docu-
mented the symptoms of his findings, eventually collating all
the information in a book called Materia Medica.
Principles of homoeopathy
Homoeo = similar Pathos = Suffering
Law of similars.
Like cures like
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This means that a substance that will produce symptoms in
a healthy person will cure a sick person displaying similar
symptoms. For example, a person with a cold may develop
watering eyes and a burning runny nose. The remedy Allium
cepa (derived from the red onion) produces these symptoms in
a healthy person and will help to relieve the cold.
Potentisation
Hahnemann found that his patients reacted better, more
dramatically and gently, if he diluted the medicine. He devel-
oped a serial dilution method of 1 in 100, called the centesimal
dilution scale. The number listed after the remedy’s name is
the indicator of how many dilutions it has undergone. E.g.
belladonna 30c has been diluted 1in 100, 30 times. In between
each dilution Hahnemann shook the medicine vigorously
which he called succussion. With these highly diluted potencies
Hahnemann discovered he could safely employ even poisonous
substances for their therapeutic benefit; e.g. homoeopathy
often employs Merc Sol for severe infections. The potentisa-
tion process removes the toxicity of the crude substance.
Homoeopathic pharmacies prepare medicine today as per
Hahnemann’s medicine. The most common potency used in
New Zealand is 30c. Upon Homoeopathic advice higher may be
prescribed. The higher the potency the stronger the effect.
Why use homoeopathy?
• Safe and effective form of treatment
• Effective on humans and animals
• No suppression of symptoms for later reappearance
• No dependence on diagnoses – requires observation
of symptoms
• No need for laboratory trials on animals for proving
medicines
• Allowance for and dependence on patient
individuality
• A treatment for the whole patient
• Works with the body’s defence mechanism to effect
improvement
• No environmental pollution
• No withholding period
• Fits with organic standards
• Duration of disease is shortened.
• Lower costs.
Things to remember when using
homoeopathy
Store in a cool dark place, well away from sunlight and strong
smelling substances.
Avoid electrical fields when finding a storage area.
Always succuss or pulse the bottle before use (pump bottle
to ball of other hand a few times) to get energy levels moving.
Avoid touching remedy during administration.
Avoid contamination of bottles. This makes them ineffective.
Use a spray bottle or a dropper from the bottle. It can be put
on the tongue or any other mucous membrane of the cow.
Use the same dispenser for the same remedy.
Administration
One spray per individual cow.
1 capful or 1 dropper in trough for whole herd.
If sunny administer at night (sunlight renders its ineffective).
Frequency as a general rule of thumb
Acute: 1 spray every 15–30 mins for 4 treatments only
Chronic: 1 spray 2x per day for 3 days
Prevention: initially 1x day for 3 days, then 1x per week or 1x
per months per instructions.
Remember:
Little is more effective.
30c is considered a safe potency to work with.
Herbal medicine
• Herbs have strong healing powers
• Include the use of any herbs, plants or
weeds with medicinal properties
• Are used fresh or dried in teas, poultices
and ointments
• Identify herbs by their botanical
name to ensure the correct plant is
used
• Always have fresh herbs in the garden,
dried herbs in storage, and ointments made
up ready.
Herbs are used for every condition known to
Man, in the treatment of both human and animal
disease, internally and externally.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Modern medicine has attempted to mimic the properties and
benefits of herbs by isolating the active constituents in the
laboratory and synthesising them. This is not ideal because
herbs heal synergistically with a complex interaction of all the
constituents to provide healing properties for the whole body.
We find herbs in the garden, the pasture, the bush and even
among the weeds. Many herbs grow in a specific location to
replace a vital soil nutrient (e.g. gorse is high in nitrogen).
These plants are called soil indicators, and are usually weeds,
but can be made into weed teas to boost nutrient levels in the
soil. Herbalists have experimented for centuries with various
plants, and no longer use plants such as belladonna, which is
poisonous, although it can be used safely in homoeopathy.
Treating your animals herbally means being prepared. There
are no over–the–counter remedies at the local veterinary clinic,
and the available literature on herbal remedies for animals only
applies to livestock in the Northern Hemisphere with different
health issues, using herbs which are often unavailable here. If
they do happen to grow here, we may call them something
else, as common names are not universal; such as ‘carrot weed’
(Daucus carota) which is definitely not the carrot weed growing
in Northland, New Zealand.
However, any reliable medicinal herbal book will give you the
information you need. The information for humans can be
applied to any animal. You simply adapt the dosages to the
size of animal you are dealing with. A herb which promotes
milk production, for instance, such as fennel, will do so in a
woman or a cow.
Use a veterinary guide to let you know what condition you are
dealing with, then refer to a herbal book for the appropriate
treatment. Individual conditions and their remedies are too
extensive to list here.
You are also going to need a book to identify herbs growing
in New Zealand, as you cannot rely on local common names
to guide you. Always go by the botanical name of the plant, or
you may end up treating your animal with something totally
ineffective, or poisonous.
There is a booklist at the end of the Animal Health
Chapter.
Below is a list of common herbs found in the wild
or at garden centres in New Zealand. Some we
call weeds, other herbs, but others are hiding as
garden ornamentals by another name. Try to grow
as many as you can, in the house, garden, herbal
leys, or around the edges of paddocks where they
can’t be trampled. Some won’t grow in your region,
but fortunately there are many herbs to choose from
and just one or two from each group of herbal actions
should be sufficient. If they are perennials, you will
be able to use them fresh, but if an annual, you
will need to harvest and dry. Also, some herbs
we might only use a part such as the flower,
which needs to be collected and dried at the
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appropriate time.
Easily found and useful herbs of New Zealand Actions and related herbs
Remember to harvest, and prepare your Warning: These herbs recommended are all old well–used
herbs beforehand if they are seasonal. Scientific name Common name remedies with minimal side–effects, except to pregnant or
To maximise the effectiveness of these herbs, look at your
Some herbs, such as chickweed (Stellaria Allium sativum Garlic references to make sure you use the appropriate part of the
lactating animals. The herbs here are considered to be safe if
media) or cleavers (Galium aparine) can plant, and the appropriate dosage. Refer to the previous
used in the right way, but we do not recommend the admin-
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
disappear just when you need them. list for the correct Latin name and to ensure you have the
istrations of concentrated tinctures or extracts or oils without
Even comfrey goes underground in the Aloe vera professional medical or veterinary advice.
correct variety.
winter and is hard to find in the long Artemesia absinthium Wormwood
grass.
Avena species Oats Antimicrobial (anti–fungal, viral, and bacterial) Nutritive (nourishes the body)
When you have a list of what you
Borago officinalis Borage Garlic Thyme Calendula Rosehips Vitamin C
can harvest locally, look up their uses
and create a personal reference chart Calendula officinalis Calendula (not Calendula tagetes – the true marigold) St John’s wort Echinacea Eucalyptus Dandelion Potassium, Phosphorous
of their actions, and applications to Sage* Comfrey Protein, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Potassium
Capsella bursa pastoris Shepherd’s purse
individual ailments. Keep a column free Oak Calcium
Analgesic (pain relief)
for comments about dosages, methods Cynara scolymus Globe artichoke Red clover Magnesium, Calcium, Copper, Selenium,
Willow Poplar Cobalt
of administration, or a formula you find Echinacea purpurea Echinacea
that works. You will build a worthwhile Equisetum Silica
Equisetum arvense Horsetail Alterative (blood purifier)
body of knowledge to share, and to use Nettle Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin K
Foeniculum vulgare Fennel Red Clover Cleavers Nettle Yarrow Manganese, Copper
yourself again and again. Experiment a
Curly dock Echinacea Coffee Potassium
little, the herbs in the list following all Galega offinialis Goat’s rue
have a long history of use. Antiseptic (infections) Oxytocic (stimulates uterine contractions) e.g. retained afterbirth
Galium aparine Cleavers
Once you have established a ready Australian ti tree Thyme Echinacea Pennyroyal* Wormwood* Feverfew*
Hypericum perforatum St John’s wort
supply of the basics, practice makes Garlic Manuka Rosemary Yarrow* Tansy*
perfect. This is how it was done for many Linum usitatissimum Flaxseed/Linseed Eucalyptus Calendula Yarrow
hundreds of years. You are carrying on a Malva slyvestris Mallow St John’s Wort Oakbark Sage* Pectoral (strengthens lungs)
proud tradition – one which has many Horehound Comfrey (external use) Mullein
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Anti– inflammatory (+also promotes healing)
health benefits, for yourself, your family, Ribwort plantain Kumarahou
and your animals. Matricaria recutita German chamomile Yarrow + Calendula + Elder +
Plantain + St John’s Wort + Echinacea + Sedative (relaxes nerves)
Exercise caution with all herbs when the Melissa officinalis Lemon balm
Comfrey + Borage German chamomile Hops Chamomile Oats
animal is pregnant or lactating. Mentha species Mint family Poplar Rosemary Willow Lemon balm Vervain
Herbs can be classified according to their Plantago major Broad–leaved plantain Feverfew *
actions or their effect on the body. Using Syptic (stops bleeding)
Plantago lanceolata Narrow–leaved plantain Anti–spasmodic (reduces muscle spasms/contractions)
a NZ Veterinary Guide or similar text, Nettle Yarrow Shepherd’s purse
you can identify the type of treatment Populus sp. Poplar Lemon balm Vervain Horsetail Witchhazel Mullein
required, and then refer to the chart Rumex crispus Yellow or curly dock Oakbark
for the appropriate herb or combination Carminative (digestive) e.g. colic
of herbs. A problem such as facial Salix species Willow Fennel Dill Peppermint Tonic (energises and tones the body)
eczema may need an antifungal such Salvia officinalis Sage German chamomile Ginger Sage* Cleavers Curly Dock Nettle
as garlic (see note below) and a hepatic Sambucus nigra Elder Lemon balm Yarrow Echinacea Borage
(liver support) for the damage done
Stellaria media Chickweed Demulcent (soothing) e.g. burns, wounds, poultice Vermifuge (expels or destroys worms)
to the liver. Good diagnosis will make
treatment more effective. Silybum marianum Milk/Variegated thistle Comfrey Plantain Flaxseed (Linseed) Wormwood* Garlic Thyme
Aloe Vera Marshmallow Chickweed Tansy*
Symphytum uplandicum Russian comfrey
Calendula Mullein
Note: Garlic has over 3000 scientific Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
studies on its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, Galactagogue (promotes milk production) * Use with caution – inhibits milk production and
Thymus vulgaris Thyme induces abortion
anti-yeast and anti-viral properties. There Goat’s rue Borage Fennel
is not a herb that has been more widely Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Milk thistle Nettle
researched. One is Jerry Lutomski (1987) Trifollium pratense Red clover
Components and Biological Properties
Hepatic (strengthens liver function)
This is not an exhaustive list. These are simply herbs which
Urtica urens Stinging nettle
of some Ailium Species: Poland Institute Dandelion Yarrow Globe artichoke are widely available, and easy to prepare. Look around
of Medicinal Plants. Verbascum thapsis Mullein Milk thistle Curly dock you, and talk to other farmers who may have knowledge
Verbena officinalis Vervain Insecticidal (kills or repels insects) of remedies from the local bush.

Neem Pyrethum Garlic

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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
Treating with herbs
There are a number of ways we can administer these healing
plants to our sick animals: fresh, dried herbs, teas, poultices
and ointments.
Fresh
• Fresh is always the best.
• Grow them around the pasture, in shelterbelts, and herbal
leys and allow the animal to graze them. Note: be sure to
avoid planting herbs where there may be concerns about
toxicity.
• Further information is available in the Pasture and Herbal
Ley sections.
• Cut them fresh and offer them to the animal. Herbs such
as comfrey are more digestible wilted so try both ways.
Poultices
• Animals are superior to humans, in that they search quite
effectively when given the opportunity to find their own
medicine.
Drying herbs
• Gather when dry.
• Pick in the morning, after the dew has dried, approx
10a.m.
• Dry in a warm airy place out of the sunlight, preferably in
a dehydrator. An alternative is the lowest heat in the oven.
Too much light reduces the colour, and heat evaporates the
oils.
• Dry in a hot water cupboard, definitely not in the micro-
wave.
• Store in brown paper bags or airtight dark containers.
• Store as whole as possible.
• Place in a dark place with as even a temperature as
possible.
• Use silica sachets to keep the moisture out.
• Grind the herbs just before processing.
Herbal teas
• The quickest and simplest method of application. Of
course, the animal won’t use your best china, but a drench
gun is quite suitable.
• For soft herbs
– shred fresh herbs finely
– infuse herbs in boiling water 15–20 minutes
– strain liquid and store in fridge for up to 3 days. If
bubbles or fermentation appear, throw it out and start
again. If you wish to keep your brew longer or out of fridge,
use cider vinegar as a preservative. Refer to the section on
Cider Vinegar for directions.
• For woody herbs such as roots or bark
– simmer 1–2 hours until soft.
– chop or grate finely before simmering.
72
• Dosage. The standard dosage for people is: 1 tsp of herb to
one cup of water, a standard weight being 55kg. Dosages
for animals will be adjusted accordingly, with a 550kg
animal receiving 10 cups of herbal tea or 2.5L.
Repeat dosages for two to three days until symptoms
disappear.
• Administration
– Drench for acute illnesses
– Put in the trough for the animal to get the essential
elements. This will pollute the trough which will need
cleaning later.
– Add to their feed or molasses.
• Poultices can be made easily.
• Use oatmeal, cornflour, or any other starches you have
in your pantry to mix with the herbs to aid drawing and
adhesion.
• Linseed: Stir ground linseed into sufficient boiling water to
make smooth dough. Add olive oil to keep it pliable. Spread
on warm cotton or muslin, wrapped up and applied to the
area needed. Ensure poultice is not too hot.
• Herbal poultices: Cook comfrey root until it is soft enough
to mash. Add other infused herbs to the mashed comfrey
roots. Apply directly to wound.
• Consult a herbal book for appropriate herbs.
Ointments
• There are many herbs which can be made into oint-
ments, depending on the problem (e.g. manuka, plantain,
chickweed, aloe vera). In a double boiler, stir your herbs
constantly for 30 mins with 600ml cold pressed olive or
almond oil. Allow to cool. Strain through a muslin cloth
to remove all vegetable matter and extract all the oils and
activity from the herbs. Return to double boiler, return to
heat and add 60g beeswax. Melt the beeswax carefully
without overheating. Add friar’s balsam as a preservative
if required. Pour into sterile jars and seal.
• The key element here is a double boiler to ensure the
material is never boiled.
• Alternative ratios for smaller amounts: 80ml oil and 10g
beeswax.
Growing and collecting your own herbs is the cheapest and
freshest option. Some bulk herbs are available through eques-
trian suppliers and health food stores, but are usually imported,
so are more expensive.
Don’t overlook traditional uses of New Zealand natives also.
Manuka and kawakawa are just two in modern usage.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Resources
Sources of seeds:
Kings Herbs (NZ) Ltd: P O Box 283 Katikati 3063, Bay of Plenty
Email: kings.seeds@xtra.co.nz
Herb Federation of New Zealand, Mrs Bunny Rathbone, 107
anaemia, lowering SCC, maintaining fertility in bulls and cows,
Glenelg St, Bradford, Dunedin. (Have a seed bank for members –
membership of a local affiliated herb society accesses the seed bank.)
and increasing wool yields and milk production.
Biodynamic Seed Bank, Hohepa Homes, c/– Chris Hull, R D 2,
Poraiti, Napier. Recommended dosages:
Mt Tiger Gardens, R D 1, Onerahi, Whangarei.
• Dogs – 10ml • Goats – 10ml
www.mounttiger.co.nz
• Lambs – 10ml • Ewes – 20ml
Wildflower World, P O Box 8161 Tauranga. Ph (07) 579 2536,
www.wildflower.co.nz • Hoggets – 20ml • Pigs – 20ml
More information on herbs can be found throughout the Animal • Calves – 25ml • Deer – 50ml
Health chapter, including the following Cider Vinegar segment.
• Cattle – 100ml • Horses – 150ml
Monthly doses help to keep your stock in prime condition.
Where stock condition has deteriorated, extra doses will
Cider vinegar assist in your stock recovery.
When drenching, however, be aware. If an
• Made from steeped and fermented apples
animal inhales at the wrong time during
• Aids in a healthy pH balance for the animal drenching, it goes down the windpipe and
• Aids in resistance to illness it can cause an irritation to the windpipe
and airways. If this is too severe it can kill.
• Has antiseptic and antibacterial properties Note: this applies with the application of all orally
• Can be drenched and put in troughs administered drenches. Be aware when using a
drench gun and if you are unsure, dilute the cider
• Good as preventative or carrier for herbs.
vinegar 1:1 with water.
Cider vinegar can also be sprayed on hay, added to drink
troughs (1 litre per 100 cows) and combined with medicinal
What is it? herbs and is also an excellent tonic for humans.
Cider vinegar is made from apples,
Recipe for herbal stock drench
steeped and fermented to a certain stage. The methods can
Use 1kg of fresh herbs to 20 litres of organic cider vinegar.
vary from factory to factory and as a result the end product
also varies. Brew for at least 2 weeks in a warm place, stirring daily.
As a stock drench cider vinegar has a reputation for aiding the Strain and store in a dark place – it will last indefinitely.
return of the digestive, lymphatic and cardiovascular systems to Herbs that can be used are many.
their healthy pH balance which aids the body in building resis-
tance to infections, parasites and viruses. It contains more than Other treatments
30 important nutrients, a dozen minerals, over half a dozen Internal Parasites: wormwood (Artemesia absinthium), tansy
vitamins and essential amino acids, and several enzymes. Plus (Tanacetum vulgare), pumpkin seed, nasturtium, stinging nettle
it has a large dose of pectin for a healthy heart. (Urtica urens), garlic (Allium satium).
One of the minerals it contains is selenium, which is a Tonic: plantain (plantago sp), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale),
mineral lacking in soils and deficient in stock. It also has chickweed (Stellaria media)
antiseptic and anti–bacterial properties.
Calming: (before transportation) chamomile (Matricaria
recutita), valerian root.
How do I use it for stock? Note: Some herbs can be extracted with cider
As a stock drench cider vinegar has a reputation for aiding vinegar, but it is not an effective extract in all
digestion, building resistance to parasites and infections, cases. Refer to the previous section on Herbs to
scours, helping to prevent and cure mastitis, grass staggers and find good herbal reference books.
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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
Colloidal silver
Colloidal silver has been included in this Resource
Guide for ‘completeness’ but claims about the use
of this product on/in animals and people needs to be
treated with caution. We encourage you to do your
own research on the Internet and read some of the
books on colloidal silver. There are a lot of therapeutic
claims made about this product but there appears to be
a lack of scientific evidence.
Note: Colloidal silver is not registered
as a remedy under the Animal Health and
Remedies Act nor the ACVM Act.
There is no advice available regarding silver residue
issues with the use of colloidal silver in the udders of
dairy cows (assisting with mastitis problems) so again
we caution the reader about the use of this product in
this way.
• An alternative to antibiotic
• Can be used in conjunction with other remedies
• A specific enzyme is disabled by colloidal silver in bacteria
etc.
What is colloidal silver?
The term colloid refers to a substance that consists of extremely
fine particles suspended within a liquid solution. In this case
we have minute particles of silver held in pure water by a tiny
electric charge.
History of colloidal silver
Prior to 1938 colloidal silver was considered to be one of the
mainstays of antibiotic treatment. It is still considered to be the
most universal antibiotic.
It has been claimed that colloidal silver is the only form of
silver that can be used safely as a supplement. It is absorbed
into the tissues at a slow enough rate that it is not irritating
to the tissue, unlike silver nitrate which reacts violently with
body tissue because of its caustic action. The colloidal particles
diffuse gradually throughout the blood and give prolonged
therapeutic action.
How colloidal silver works
Many forms of bacteria, fungi and viruses utilise a specific
enzyme for their metabolism. Silver is reported to disable
74
bacteria, protozoa, parasites and many viruses by disabling the
oxygen–metabolism enzyme thus destroying the germ as it is
unable to breathe. The dead germ and its toxins then have to
be removed by the body by the immune and lymphatic systems.
It is not clear how silver upsets the enzyme in these single celled
microbes, but it is believed that the positive charge on the silver
element is influential.
Colloidal silver leaves the animals cell enzyme intact.
It has also been claimed that there is no known disease–
causing organism that can live in the presence of even minute
traces of the element of simple metallic silver and are killed
within minutes of contact.
Suggested dosage
Cows: 30ml twice daily orally
Some organic farmers have used colloidal silver in new cases
of mastitis during the dry cow period (often in conjunction with
homoeopathy) and have reported improvement in mastitis.
Please note: The use of colloidal silver internally
remains controversial. No trial data to support its
effectiveness has been presented by those who sell it.
Silver is a heavy metal (of low toxicity) that will accu-
mulate in tissues over time – there is the potential for
a residue problem if it is used extensively. The use of
colloidal silver internally in farm animals is therefore
not recommended.
Websites you are strongly urged to research colloidal
silver yourself and heed the warnings listed above and come to
your own opinion on the use of colloidal silver in your cows.
These websites are current (15/8/03)
• www.silverinstitute.org/
• www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00971.html
• www.toolsforhealing.com/Health/Colloidal_Silver/colloidal_
silver.htm
• www.silvermedicine.org/scientificstudies.html
• www.astek.co.nz/silver/info.html
• Silver Bullet Enterprises. The Colloidal Silver Manual. This
comprehensive new 180–page manual is available for only
US$47.00 from Silver Bullet Enterprises, 25277 W. Main St., Dept.
SF, Lenwood, CA 92311 Phone: (760) 253–2988.
• www.thenaturalconnection.net/TNC%20Columns%202000/
colloidal_silversafe_or_scam.htm
• John Hill. Colloidal Silver: A Literature Review: Medical Uses,
Toxicology &Manufacture, 2nd Edition A comprehensive and
objective reference on colloidal silver has recently been published
as an on–line book by John Hill. This electronic book is available for
$12.95 at the Web www.clspress.com/tox.html It covers
what is known about colloidal silver, what it does, how it works, risks
of toxicity, and what is not known about it.
• www.colloidal–silver.com/whatiscs.htm
• www.colloidal–silver.com/animals.htm
• www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/
silverad.html
Specific Health Problems
Despite the benefits of good organic farming, animal
problems and issues do occur from time to time. It is
important that we deal with them as they arise. In this
section, we have tried to cover the most likely problems
that would occur, giving a brief insight into the problem
and its causes, prevention treatments and treatments for
acute cases. These range from management suggestions
to homoeopathic and herbal treatments. The homoeo-
pathic remedies are indicated by a potency (e.g. 30c or
1m) after the name of the remedy.
We have listed every possible treatment known to us, with
the aim of informing you of a range of options. We stress that
what you ultimately decide to do is your responsibility, and
Rearing calves
we do suggest you make further enquiries to your vet or your
certifying agency and do further research if you are unsure. The
Veterinary Guide is a good resource to help this process.
Above all else, remember to uphold the 5 Freedoms of the
Animal Welfare Act; the fifth one being ‘Protection from, and
rapid diagnosis of injury and disease.’ This means we cannot
let an animal suffer and if necessary, conventional medicines
must be used.
1. Calf management and worms
• Rear calves as naturally as possible
• Treat problems early
• Prevention is essential
• If unsure, get a test for worms done for your calves
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
• Worms and lice can be problems
• Calf health is a good indicator of organic system
health.
These animals will suffer if things are not in balance. Use
your strong powers of observation to see what is happening
with them. Detect any changes or signs of problems as early
as possible and deal with them before they get worse. The
most common signs are worms and lice. There are remedies
that can help with this, but it is best to prevent them with good
management.
Keep this procedure as natural to the calves as possible. It is
said that animals that can run and jump around after feeding
develop stronger bones. They need colostrum for 4 days, and
preferably their own mother’s for at least the first 48 hours,
to absorb antibodies, which leads to the development of their
immune system. They then need fresh whole milk (preferably
your own organic milk) for a minimum of 3 months. They also
need access to grass and a paddock to run in. Keep them warm
and give them shelter. Keep the milk supply constant. There are
many methods of rearing calves and they all have their merits.
Meal can be fed, but it needs to be a special brew to avoid the
antibiotics and preservatives etc. Always remember to ask and
get a signed statement with all the contents of any brought in
feeds for certification. Other farmers avoid this and give them
good hay, chaff or silage to help develop the rumen system. It
does not matter so long as the basics requirements are present
and the animals are healthy and happy. Once weaned, they
must be given good pasture to avoid a check in growth, and
possible health problems.
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Scour treatment:
The calf must have electrolytes to maintain hydration – 2 litres
twice daily. Those containing sodium citrate work best. If it
cannot or will not consume enough by mouth, your vet can
give fluids intravenously. Maintain body temperature – a heat
lamp is good for this but be careful not to allow the calf to get
too hot. As the calf recovers, milk can slowly be reintroduced
and the electrolytes cut back. Do not mix milk and electrolyte
(the milk won’t clot in the calf’s stomach) – instead feed little
and often with at least a two hour gap between milk and fluids.
A dose of vegetable rennet (5ml) immediately after the milk
feed will assist clotting and help get the digestive system used
to milk again.
Problems that can be encountered when rearing calves:
Rotavirus
Causes scouring in calves of up to 4 weeks of age (usually
around the 10 day mark). The virus is carried by adult cattle
who show no symptoms. Shedding by the cow in its dung is
likely to occur at calving since there is a short, temporary decline
in immunity at this time. A calf may be infected during the first
24 hours with the cow and be incubating the disease when you
bring it in to the calf shed. It then spreads through the rest of
the mob. Death rates have climbed dramatically in recent years.
Once calves are 4 weeks old, they are naturally immune.
Signs
Pale yellow watery scour and marked dehydration (off milk, dry
nose, lethargy, sunken eyes, a tent of skin pulled up is slow to
return). In terminal stages the calf cannot stand (or even sit up),
feels cold and has a weak or absent sucking reflex.
Treatment
See Scour Treatment section above.
76
Prevention
Isolate sick calves. Ideally, if your set–up allows, healthy animals
should be removed from sick ones (rather than the other way
around) and placed in a ‘quarantine pen’ for a week. If they’re
still healthy after a week, they’ll be okay.
An infected calf excretes huge quantities of virus. Try not
to spread it around on boots, hands, feeding utensils etc.
AgriQuality allows the use of sodium hypochlorite as a disin-
fectant. If you operate an all–in all–out system with pens
containing no more than 20–30 calves and the pens have solid
walls (e.g. plywood), this will increase your chances of confining
the disease. Leave a pair of boots and leggings in a tray outside
the infected or quarantine pen for use only within that pen. You
can reduce the amount of virus in the environment by steam
cleaning the walls of the pen (don’t try to steam clean the
bedding!) and topping up the bedding with a good layer (3 or
4 inches) of new material.
A note on steam cleaning: remember you’re killing the virus
with heat not pressure. Excessive pressure may aerosol live virus
into other pens.
At the end of calf rearing, scrape out all the bedding (makes
great compost) and thoroughly steam clean the shed.
Vaccination
If there is a demonstrated need, your certifying authority will
allow vaccination. The cows are vaccinated 4 weeks before
calving (timing is critical) and antibodies are passed in the
colostrum. They are ‘contact antibodies’ so at–risk calves need
to be fed it every day. Thus it is essential the colostrum from
vaccinated cows is stored.
Worms in calves
• Will cause ill thrift
• Worms need oxygen, warmth, moisture to survive.
• Worms live in grass up to 2 cm long
• Learn the causes and work on prevention.
When moving from conventional to organic, there will be some
animals that will not cope, simply because they have a body
locked into the chemical regime through their breeding. You
can use one drench a year during conversion with Demeter. This
animal will lose meat status for life and for milk for 12 months.
It is suggested you consider carefully before using and if the
animal is still not coping, she should be sold on to a conven-
tional farm or culled. The worm problem does reduce the longer
you practice organics.
Characteristics of parasitic worms:
• Can cause death if not prevented or treated
• Spend the greatest part of their life outside the animal
• Unhealthy animals with low immune systems are more
susceptible.
• In larval stage on ground, don’t move any further than
30cm radius of dung they were deposited in
• Need oxygen, moisture, and warmth to survive
• Can survive in water that animals have dropped faeces in
• Located in the bottom of the grass sward
• Sunlight, snow, spreading manure, earthworms, ground
fungi, dung beetles destroy eggs and larvae
• Hay, silage, regrassing and cropping will reduce worms
and lead to worm free paddocks until reinfected.
Worms in calves was a problem to one farmer. His vet
offered the following management system to reduce
this, which has now been successful for 8 years.
Rear your calves in a different paddock each year (like
rotational grazing) and this will avoid any build up of
worm eggs. As a result a moveable half round hutch
and portable trough were purchased. A paddock that
needed resting was chosen and split into two using
electric fencing. At four days to one week old the calves
are transferred from the calf shed to the paddock. They
are fed 3–4 litres blood warm milk in the paddock
twice a day and also offered hay and silage. Groups
are kept to small numbers (no more than 25). Once
a month, after the full moon, when the calves have
expelled intestinal worms onto spent pasture the
calves are shifted to the other half of the paddock. The
worms expel themselves from the animal 12–24 hours
before the full moon. After gradual weaning, the calves
are all put as one mob and moved each day ahead of
the cows. If necessary they are drenched for worms.
Grazing them on plantain dominant pasture just
before and on the full moon are a good pick–me–up
for the calves.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Suggestions from this information
• Worms are more likely to be active in autumn and spring
depending on your area.
• Rotationally graze open pasture that is long to allow
animals to only graze down to 2.5cm to limit larval uptake,
which results in animals that are healthier with good
immunity. This practice has the added benefit of enabling
the soil to rest and become healthy.
• Offer clean water in troughs.
• Test animals before treating.
• Breed for worm resistance/resilience.
• The need for prevention reduces with age (except with
goats).
• Adult animals rarely need worming.
• Herbs help the intestinal tract to be healthy and discourage
worms.
• Drench animals, hold them in the yard for 12–24 hours
to clean themselves out and expel the worms; then move
them on to clean pasture to avoid build up of worm
numbers on the pasture and reinfection.
• Modern biodynamic farmers are finding that drenching
12–48 hours before the full moon helps the effectiveness
of worm treatments.
• Two calves per paddock (post weaning) is another way to
get healthy, well grown, ‘worm free’ stock, with minimum
hassle.
• It is said that worm larvae come up the stem (2cm) and
make themselves more likely to be ingested when the grass
is damp, migrating to the base of the stem of grass in hot
dry or windy weather. So shift the calves to fresh grass later
in the day.
• Keep the calves on a fast round ahead of the cows, prefer-
ably shift them daily.
• Well grown and healthy calves with healthy dams are less
susceptible in the first place.
You may be able to pick up more from the above information
and come up with other theories worth trying. Do so, as there
is no closed shop on this.
Some worm treatments
• Plantain (Plantago sp.) is one pasture species containing
higher levels of tannins and works as an anthelmintic. There
are others such as Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniulatus), sulla
and docks. Include them in your pasture.
• Feed willow leaves, also linseed as a stock food.
• It is said that feeding of hay or chaff develops the rumen
system. The result is a healthier and more resistant calf.
• 1kg garlic crushed and steeped in 10–20 litres cider
vinegar. Seaweed can also be added. Steep for up to 30
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days before use (can be used after

being steeped overnight but the
Other suggested treatments for calf conditions
(mainly homoeopathic remedies)
2. Trace element deficiencies Minerals required for the functioning of human cells
longer the better) Strain. Add 1 litre
• Initial problems can occur while adjusting to organics Although this is a list for all the minerals required for
olive oil for every 10 litres just before
Calving trauma Arnica and Bellis perenis 30c(bruising/swelling) fully functioning healthy human cells, the list required for
drenching. Forty-eight hours before • Identify deficiencies through testing and samples
animals will be very likely to be the same because of similar
full moon bring animals in and drench Coccidiosis Mercurius 30c or a Coccidiosis nosode
• Ongoing deficiencies can be dealt with using accepted processes and chemical reactions. Some are required in
100mls per calf. Leave 2 hours and
management plan. Speak with your certifying agency first ultra trace amounts.
drench with another 100mls. Leave Scours
in yard to empty out. Put on fresh • Weeds and plants are good indicators
Homoeopathic nosodes are available to help the animal fight it. Antimony Barium
paddock. Store unused drench in • Remedies are available.
Green slimy Calc phos 30c Beryllium Bismuth
container in dark place for future use.
There should be a multi–pronged approach to dealing with Boron Bromine
This remedy can vary in amounts and it White China or aconite 30c
trace element deficiencies: Cadmium Calcium
does not matter. The key elements are ` White/change of feed Arsenicum 30c
the garlic, cider vinegar and olive oil. Identify the problem through: Carbon Cerium
Molasses can also be added. Yellow/colic Colycinthis or bryonia 30c Caesium Chloride
• Tests: liver biopsy, blood, soil and herbage tests
• 15ml raw linseed oil and 7ml pine Abdominal pain/green/cold Vertratum alb 30c Chromium Copper
• Observing your animals and pasture (especially
tree turpentine (not mineral turps) Prevention (put in milk) Yoghurt with acidophilus weeds). Dysprosium Erbium
plus herbs or a pinch of ground Europium Fluorine
Prevention (put in milk) Aloe vera 5 parallel actions:
ginger given as a single drench to the Gadolinium Gallium
animal. Prevention (put in milk) Cider vinegar • Fertiliser plan Germanium Gold
• Homoeopathic Cina and Santonia Stop diarrhoea Slippery elm powder (available from Healtheries) , • Use of liquid fertilisers etc to fine tune biological Hafnium Helium
30c in the trough once day for three flax (Phorium tenax) leaves activity Holmium Hydrogen
consecutive days, then once a week Bio Pect available from your vet clinic has natural products. • Immediate animal treatment for acute cases Indium Iodine
can help calves build a resistance. Check the label for restricted materials before administering. Iridium Iron
• Prevention
Others: filix mas, arsenicum 30c. There Lanthanum Lithium
Also permitted but some are restricted (Check with your certifier):
may be others. Check the homoeo- • Balance your grazing. Lutetium Magnesium
pathic section for more information on Chalk products, electrolytes, and iodine.
While the soil, plants and animals adjust, there will be still the Manganese Molybdenum
this subject. likelihood of problems in this area, especially if you had one Neodymium Nickel
Others
• The following herbs should be steeped while you were conventional farming. Once you achieve full Niobium Nitrogen
in cider vinegar for 1–3 weeks, then To help develop strong bones Calc phos 30c certification, many of them will fade away. However some, Osmium Oxygen
strained and used to drench animals Weaning Ignatia 200c depending on your soil base, may linger due to a certain lack of Palladium Phosphorus
or put in their trough. The vinegar these minerals being present. You will still need to monitor any
Mothering up Sepia 30c Platinum Polonium
draws out the properties of that known deficiencies.
Pneumonia Bryonia 30c Potassium Praseodymium
herb and adopts it. It is also a natural If you do have an ongoing deficiency (e.g. selenium or boron, Promethium Protactinium
preservative. If time does not allow it, copper), please be assured that it can be addressed and the
these herbs can be made into a tea by Navel Ill Diseases Rhenium Rhodium
certifying agencies are willing to discuss these with you and
pouring boiling water over them and Nosode Streptococcus 30c Rubidium Ruthenium
come up with a plan. As long as you communicate to them,
steeping them for at least 12 hours Samarium Scandium
Early stages Aconite nap 12x/Pyrogenum 200c giving evidence of your problem, as well as a possible short
before use. Details on using herbs are Selenium Silica
and long term management plan involving fertiliser, animal
found earlier in the health chapter. Hock and tendon swelling Benzoicum acidum 6c Silicon Silver
remedies etc. that can show you are overcoming this problem,
– Steep wormwood or tansy in cider Fetlock inflamed Ruta grav 1m they will help you through it. Sodium Strontium
vinegar and drench 100mls. Both Swollen & hot joints Bryonia 30c Sulphur Tantalum
have abortive properties, due to their Technetium Tellurium
Shoulder & fetlock swollen Ledum paustre 30 Liver samples are the current preferred indicators for:
volatile oils, so it is recommended to Terbium Thallium
not drench pregnant animals with this. Lungworm An old remedy for lungworm is to put animals in an Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu) and Cobalt (Co) Thorium Thulium
They could also be toxic in high doses. enclosed shed and burn sulphur. The inhaled smoke Blood samples are the current preferred indicators for: Tin Titanium
kills the lungworms Zinc (Zn) and Iodine (I)
– Pumpkin seed: ripe and as fresh Tungsten Vanadium
as possible. Crushed and steeped in Black leg If a problem get permission to Vaccinate. Ytterbium Yttrium
vinegar. Lepto You may need to vaccinate. Appendix 6 shows a table of mineral deficiency indicators in Zinc Zirconium
clovers and legumes.
– Thyme steeped in cider vinegar or
used as a tea (tonic and cleanser). Note: It is important to get a GE free declaration for any vaccine. A total of 78 minerals required.

o Stinging nettle: the leaves and The 17 elements in bold are currently considered to be
roots (a tonic rich in minerals). necessary for beef cattle and sheep but the number of
minerals is probably higher than this.

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Fertiliser plan
• It is important that this problem is addressed to enable all
round balanced stock
• Identify your mineral imbalances and needs through soil
and herbage tests, as well as any other tests you may
need
• Remember, it is important to have a balance of elements
(see the Soil Chapter of this Resource Guide)
• Seek good advice on products that are available
• Draw up a short and long term plan for fertiliser
• When doing your plan incorporate the time strategy for
certification
• The certifying agency must give permission before use.
This could be given only where deficiencies can be demon-
strated by soil and blood tests, and less soluble forms are
preferred if they are available. If you are planning on
taking some time to achieve certification, it may be best
to overcome this while still moving towards organics. The
sooner the better is the key
• Do not forget to include liquid fertilisers, biodynamic
preparations, compost teas etc. to fine tune and help the
biological activity of the soil.
Immediate animal treatment
• Administer the trace elements
• For certification, drenching and injections are allowed on a
restricted basis and can be used for specific animals with
an obvious deficiency only
• Bolus treatments are not allowed
• If in doubt, contact your certifying agency
• Always remember all minerals must be balanced with the
other minerals. Consult your vet, if in doubt.
• Mineral chelates can be an option. Check the details with
your certifying agency first
• You may need to consider culling or selling animals that
have repeated problems, as they are probably struggling
with the organic system, and may always do so.
Prevention – long term
• Be proactive, and wherever possible, anticipate these
problems, as many occur at certain known times of the
year (usually stress times or mating time for the cows)
• Administer preventative treatments to your herd if you have
acute cases, because if one cow is sick it is quite likely the
others may be having similar, but less obvious problems.
80
• Try and use methods where stock can take what they need
individually (e.g. licks, in water troughs, and through feed
troughs)
• Use tonics such as cider vinegar, liquid seaweed (as a
stock drench), and molasses. (Be aware 10% brought in
feed limit for molasses to meet certification and check its
source)
• At all times keep your animals as healthy as possible, well
fed, and their immune systems in top form so they can
move through stress times more comfortably
• Talk to older farmers who farmed before the 1960s and
try to find alternative remedies and methods. Pass new
findings on so we all get to learn them
• If going for certification, check your certifying agency rules
to ensure the substance you plan to use is allowable. If in
doubt, please check with them before commencing.
Some Suggested Treatments
Balance the grazing
Many pasture species, weeds, herbs and trees have the ability to
produce more of one specific mineral, minerals that are lacking
in the soil and pasture.
Many plants have the ability to absorb and store higher mineral
levels than others.
A mixed pasture including some of these plants can be used
to improve the nutrient levels of grazing animals. Some weeds
will grow in a particular area because of certain soil character-
istics – for example low or high nitrogen levels, poorly or well
drained areas, with certain mineral levels. This is nature’s way
of healing the soil. For example, the thistle indicates a lack
of copper there (it does have a balance of other interacting
minerals too). Nature is telling that plant to grow there, die,
and the copper that is in the leaves will rot into the topsoil and
rebalance the soil.
Therefore look at your weeds and combine this with all the
other information you have built up and you will get a picture
of your farm. You may also note that animals prefer a certain
weed at certain time of the year and yet leave the same weed at
another time. They know what they need and when they need
it, if available. This is the main reason to have a mixed pasture
for feeding your livestock.
Some weeds or herbs can be used as foliar sprays, or in teas
or tinctures to help animals overcome deficiencies, and can
be sprayed on or put in troughs (or drenched if acute). Please
make sure the herb is not poisonous or has the ability to abort
animals before using. A good herb book should tell you this.
See compost teas in The Environment chapter of this Resource
Guide. It is best, however, to make them available through your
pasture.
We could also apply the same theory to trees when we are
considering planting shade and shelter or fodder trees. Flax
is another good native all rounder and, if available, cows will
nibble on it when they have the need.
Deep rooting plants, such as chicory and plantain, will also
absorb the minerals from the subsoil and make them avail-
able to the animals. There are some legumes that are also
deep rooting and grow well in summer and have high mineral
content (e.g. Lotus corniculatus and Caucasian clover). Maybe
a specific crop could offer a short–term answer to a mineral
imbalance.
The use of biodynamic preparations 500, 501 and especially the
compost preparations (502–507) allow the soil to rebalance at
a faster rate, and then maintain that balance through yearly
application. The compost preparations are processed through
a medium before applying to the land, using a compost heap,
cow pat pit, liquid fertiliser brew, or effluent pond. Further
details on this are in the Soil section.
• Cider vinegar
• Native flax: Good general tonic for nibbling when needed
• Liquid seaweed as a drench or in trough. (good overall
source, especially of iodine)
• Fresh seawater (10–20L) straight from the sea in trough
or made available to the animals. (watch for excess
chlorine).
• Herb teas: Pour boiling water over the herb/weed for up to
12 hours. Drench animal with it or put it in trough. This will
only keep up to 3 days
• Cider vinegar tincture: Steep herb/weed in cider vinegar for
1–2 weeks. (see de Bairacli Levy, 1988.) The cider vinegar draws
out the oils and minerals from the herb). Sieve off the
vegetable matter and store in a dark place until required.
Keeps at least 3 months, some say up to 2 years Drench
animal with it (200ml for a cow) or put in trough 1 litre per
100 cows.
Certifying agencies generally prefer you to address any short
term mineral deficiencies through licks and salt blocks, so the
animal has a choice as to whether they take them or not. The
long-term approach, of course, is to have a long term plan
through your fertiliser programme. It is most important you are
conversant on these matters if you wish to become certified, as
this is where most people stumble.
A further breakdown on herbs used for specific illnesses are
on page 71.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
Specific deficiencies and their
treatment
Cobalt
• Herbivores need cobalt to synthesize Vitamin B12
• Deficiencies occur mainly on volcanic and pumice soils
• Young stock are more susceptible, especially after weaning
• Poor appetite, general ill thrift
• Lots of plants and trees contain cobalt
• Moisture and liming is a factor limiting cobalt availability.
Cobalt is a component for Vitamin B12 production. Its defi-
ciency will show up as loss of appetite, poor growth, weight
loss, anaemia, wasting and in severe cases death. The eyes
have a watery discharge. A cobalt deficiency is associated with
an increase in infertility and metabolic diseases. Cobalt in soil
is sensitive to moisture and higher soil pH. Deficiencies can be
found mainly on volcanic and pumice soils. It is important to
talk to your certifying agency on your options before beginning
to address the problem.
Treatment
• Administer cobalt solutions (1/2 tsp cobalt sulphate
per 150 cows per week in water supply weekly
and/or Vitamin B12 short term). Get permission
first.
• If you are administering cobalt sulphate or B12
injections, check the rulings with your certifying
agency beforehand
• Long term give homoeopathic Cobaltum 1m and
Cobaltum Chloridum 30c once a week for 3 months
to stabilise the element in the cow’s system.
• Plants such as red clover, juniper, dandelion, trees
such as mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus – also known
as whiteywood), contain higher levels of cobalt.
There are others.
Selenium
• Deficiencies cause ill thrift in young, and infertility
• Specific plants and trees contain selenium
• Selenium is deficient in most sandy soils
• Selenium deficiency is linked to higher incidence of early
abortions and late returns after mating your herd
• Cider vinegar contains selenium
• Can be rectified with seaweed as a liquid fertiliser
• Can be rectified in fertiliser.
Selenium deficiency is also known as white muscle disease
and causes ill thrift in young growing animals. It also causes
infertility, reduced milk flow and retained afterbirth in cows.
Ill thrift can occur in all ages with a selenium deficiency. Thirty
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percent of NZ land is selenium deficient; mainly on sandy soils • Excess of zinc can cause a lack of copper
of all types including pumice soils and the loess soils. Excessive Mineral Sources from Plants and Trees
Zinc deficiency is not usually a problem in NZ soils or pastures.
amounts can poison an animal. Some native trees such as
Therefore there are few problems, except in the facial eczema Common name Botannical name Mineral Sources
coprosmas are high in selenium. Deep rooting plants contain
season when more zinc is needed. It can be caused by over
selenium (e.g red clover, horsetail grass). Selenium deficiency Anise Pimpinella anisum Phosporous
liming.
can be rectified through your fertiliser, but talk to your certifying
Asparagus Iodine,iron, phosphorous, silicon
agency about your options, and present soil/herbage/blood Treatments
tests as evidence of a shortage. Borage Borago officinalis Potassium
• Dandelion, garlic, cider vinegar, rosemary,
Chickweed Stellaria media Copper, phosphorus
Copper (check with certifier) shepherd’s purse contain zinc

• Copper deficiency is indicated by faded harsh dull coats, • Zincum met can be used in the trough once a Chicory Cichorium intybus Calcium, copper, iron
scours, poor growth week to help the body metabolise the zinc it takes
Cleavers Galium aparine Calcium, copper, iodine, silicon,sodium
up
• Young and pregnant stock are more susceptible to Cu
• Other treatments from the vet containing zinc Clover Sodium
deficiency
(such as zinc oxide) can be used, but check with Comfrey Symphytum officinale Chlorine, iron, potassium, sodium
• Is usually a soil deficiency/imbalance
your standards first and if you are still unsure check
• Prevention measures available with your certifying agency. Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, silicon, potas-
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
sium
• Acute cases: contact your vet and certifying agency • Zinc treatments in large amounts can block the
• Excess zinc causes a lack of copper uptake of other minerals such as copper. Dill Anethum graveolens Phosphorous, sodium

• Antagonistic with a number of elements. Dock Plantago spp. Calcium, magnesium

Iron
Affected animals look starved, even though there is an • Iron deficiency causes loss of appetite, and anemia Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Copper, potassium, sodium, sulphur
abundance of feed around. Their coats are faded and harsh.
• Occurs with cobalt deficiency Honeysuckle Lonicera caprifolium Potassium
They are scouring and the young animals are poorly grown,
with ill thrift. Lack of copper increases susceptibility to worm • Stinging nettle is high in iron Marigold Tagetes sp. Phosphorous, sulphur
infestations. Specific plants that contain copper are red clover, • Homoeopathy can help.
yarrow. All thistles are indicators of a deficiency. A lack of Plantain Plantago spp. Calcium, potassium, sulphur
copper is related to the soil and is common mainly on peat, Lack of iron often occurs with a cobalt deficiency but can also
occur with other illnesses and be a cause of them. Indicators are Sorrel Rumex acetosella Calcium, phosphorous, copper
sandy, and pumice soils. It can be made unavailable through an
excess of other minerals including molybdenum, sulphur, zinc, a loss of appetite, weakness and anaemia. Sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus Calcium
iron, and phosphates which restrict the uptake of copper.
Treatments Wormwood Artemisia absinthum Iron, potassium
Treatment • Plants such as stinging nettle, blackberry and Yarrow Achillea millefolium Copper
raspberry, garlic, chicory, dock, groundsel, parsley,
• Vet help may be needed and if necessary
vervain, watercress, and nasturtium contain iron.
permission from your certifying agency. To help
the body utilise the copper available naturally, use • Homoeopathic remedies: Trees
homoeopathic Cuprum met 30c in the trough once
Ferrum met 30c to allow body to utilise available Apple Malus domestica N,P,Co,Io,Mg,Mo,K,Se,Zn (fruit)
a week
iron.
Elderberry Sambucus nigra Ca, K, P
• Cut up a copper hot water cylinder or pipe and put
Chincona 30c anaemia arising
some in each trough. Alternately put a huge Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Zn (fruit)
section in your main feeder tank. Nat mur 30c helps eliminates salts etc
Mulberry Morus alba Mg, Ca, P, K, S
• Plants that contain copper are chickweed, chicory, Trinitrotoluene 30c helps haemoglobin to
cleaver, dandelion, fennel, garlic, sorrel, yarrow. produce Olive Olea europaea Ca, P

• Use mineral licks with copper added (permission Vitamin C Peach Prunus persica Co, Mo, Zn (Leaf) Bo, Ca, Cu, Mg, P, K (fruit)
must be granted)
• Usually not a problem in healthy animals Poplar Populus Mo, Zn
• Check with your certifying agency before using
• Can also be used to detoxify after eating poisonous plants. Willow Salix spp. Calcium
copper bullets or routine injections.
All our healthy domestic animals (excluding guinea pigs)
Contributed by Ian Buckingham from various sources
Zinc synthesise their own vitamin C so in theory do not suffer defi-
ciency symptoms. Vitamin C levels increase in animals (except There are more, especially with trees. Check various publications and websites for these.
• Can be caused by over liming
guinea pigs) when an infection is being fought. There is not
• Herbs and weeds contain zinc good evidence to support the need for Vitamin C treatment,
• Supplementation can cause other imbalances although it is being used by farmers.

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3. Mastitis Causes of mastitis Having mastitis problems?

• Mastitis is an The primary causes are:
– what should I do?
inflammation of the • Environmental bacteria invading the udder and releasing If you are having a continual stream of new cases of mastitis
mammary gland toxins occurring every week there are a few things to consider doing
• Mastitis may be an to identify the possible source of the problem and then elimi-
• Faulty milking machines
indicator of the health of nate potential problem causes.
• Bacteria spread through contamination.
the immune system Collect a milk sample in an aseptic manner and drop it in to
Other causes are: your veterinarian. If you cannot do this the same morning
• There are 2 types:
subclinical and clinical • Injury – bruising or surface damage then you may freeze the sample until you collect a few cases
or until you can deliver this to the vet – the bacteria will still
• Somatic Cell Counts • Exposure to cold resulting in a chill.
survive this.
indicate the level of Important: Identify the bacteria that is causing the
subclinical mastitis and a The goal here is to find out which sort of bacteria is causing
mastitis. If you can’t, get a vet to diagnose.
response to an infection the mastitis – see previous column. If it is an environmental
Bacteria spread through contamination: bacteria and the most common one is Strep. uberis then at
• The change from least you will know that you do not have to start looking for
subclinical to clinical may Spread from cow to cow during milking by hands and liners.
a milking plant hygiene and function problem and can target
be rapid More likely to create mild subclinical infections.
likely race problems – like muddy puddles at the entrances to
• There are many causes Staphylcoccus aureus the milking parlour.
of mastitis Rapid onset swollen & purple udder
If you find the problem is a Staph. aureus then you will have to
Clots, systemic signs.
• Take all steps to identify look at milking plant hygiene, function, and milker techniques
cause and deal with it Coagulase Negative Staphyloccus (CNS) etc.
Once considered not to be significant but can cause
• Preventative measures
are available
Somatic cell counts (SCC) elevated SCC.
Cows must have an immune system that can function at the
optimal level. To do this she must have good nutrition, must
Streptococcus agalactiae have all the required trace elements in her blood and not be
• Different cows respond to different treatments Somatic cells are a normal constituent of milk as they are cells Mild fever for 24 hrs only.
that make the first line of defence when pathogens (bacteria stressed.
• Different causes require different treatments. Cornebacterium pyogenes
etc.) invade the udder. Elevated somatic cell counts are an Adequate levels of selenium and iodine in the blood are often
Summer mastitis. Thick cheese-like smelly
indication of the presence of subclinical and clinical mastitis secretions. Can burst through outerskin. When burst, overlooked in herd mastitis cases. Selenium is very important
and are a measure of the inflammatory response mounted by contaminates others. for the immune system and is a vital component of enzyme
What is it? the animal. There are many factors, which can affect this from
season to season (aside from the main factor of subclinical Environmental bacteria:
systems, and in conjunction with vitamin E is a powerful anti-
oxidant in the body. The thyroid gland has a high requirement
Mastitis in an inflammation of the mammary gland. mastitis). Some are: split herds with cows drying off at Increases with heat and humidity, dampness, mud and yarding. for iodine and the cow in early lactation often does not get
This leads to a response caused by the cow’s body different times; the weather and presence of environmental Harder to control. enough iodine. (Note: the use of chlorinated water significantly
releasing white blood cells to fight the inflammation in bacteria; stress on cows; low production at the end of lacta- reduces the amount of iodine obtainable from water if this is
Coliforms
the mammary glands (udder). It is an efficient immune tion; lameness; stray electricity. your method of medicating cows.) Zinc also has a huge role
Thin yellow flaky milk. High temperature.
system that is working to destroy or neutralise the infec- Systemic signs.
in many body systems but is very important for the hooves and
tions and related toxins, so the mammary gland can go skin – especially the keratin plug of the teat canal. Just prior to
In general an indicator from a bulk sample test SCC is: Streptococcus uberis
back to a normal function. calving the cow has a natural drop in zinc levels in her blood.
At 400,000 indicates 40% of your herd is infected Fever. Severe swelling quarters and abnormal milk.
One wonders if this factor may influence the cow’s ability to
There are two main stages: 250,000 25% Streptococcus dysgalactiae
100,000 * 10% (Source: www.dexcel.co.nz) keep infection at bay from the udder.
1. Subclinical – the most common with no outward Enterococcus faecalis
* If your herd is constantly at this level, a sudden jump to Adequate calcium is also important for the sphincter teat
signs.
129 –140,000 indicates 1 new clinical case. Higher daily cell Norcadia asteroides muscle contraction.
2. Clinical – which may appear as: counts do not indicate this. Hard lumps in the udder. Will not respond to
antibiotic treatment. Copper and cobalt are also very important for many enzyme
a. Subacute – abnormalities can be seen with The reason why high SCC get penalised is because they may systems in the cow though are probably not so directly related
changes in milk (flaky, watery, stringy) and a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
reduce product or processing yields, and they affect the flavour to mastitis.
Extremely sick cow. High temperature.
slight swelling udder. and shelf life of dairy products. There is a view that getting the Mastitis severe, brown and watery discharge, lumpy So, if you are having problems with mastitis do the following;
b. Acute – has a sudden onset, swelling and SCC down too low is not desirable, because it is believed the udder. May also have severe diarrhoea.
• Collect a milk sample
pain, milk is foul, and cows may show other cows lose the efficiency of their own natural immune system
signs of systemic infection at this level. This can become even more likely if you choose to • Blood test for selenium, copper, cobalt, iodine, zinc
Now look to see how the problem can be eliminated, espe-
(e.g. temperature, pulse, off food etc breed from cows with low Somatic Cell Counts. • Take another machine test if milk sample report indicates a
cially if it is environmental.
c. Chronic – long lasting infection. Can be both problem in this area
clinical and subclinical. • It is also an idea to get a fresh set of eyes if you have

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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
to redo a milking machine test – use a different testing
agency as often a fault will be picked up quicker this way.
Sampling milk for mastitis
Both you and your veterinarian want to identify the bacteria
that are causing the mastitis in your cow so there is no point
supplying a contaminated sample of milk from your hands or
from dirt on the teat or udder.
If you do not feel you are competent in collecting a sample your
veterinarian can help you.
You will need
A sterile sample bottle
Methylated spirits (meths)
Sterile swabs
CLEAN HANDS
• If the teat is grossly contaminated with faecal (dung) material
then wash the teat very well with water.
• Next using a sterile swab and meths clean the teat again
concentrating on the end of the teat where the little hole is
(the teat opening)
• Turn the end of the teat on an angle and look to see that the
teat end is clean
• Do one more clean with another sterile swab and allow the
meths to dry
• Taking care not to touch the end of the teat with your hands,
and watching to ensure a movement of the cows rear append-
ages do not contaminate the sterile teat, squirt the first 3
squirts of milk on to the ground
• Remove the cap from the sample bottle (holding the bottle in
the groove of your hand and then holding the cap against this
between your first finger and your thumb) hold the bottle on a
forty five degree angle then squirt the milk into the bottle and
ensure that the bottom of the bottle is covered. The reason
for holding the bottle on its side is that you will be less likely
to have dust or dirt dropping into the bottle from the udder if
the cow moves. Drop the sample into your local veterinarian
and if it cannot be done that morning you may freeze the milk
sample. Yes, the bacteria survive this!
Other considerations (in no particular order)
• Check liners are compatible with your cup shells. (Measure
your cups if you are working in an older shed as often these
have been ‘cut down’ to mimic another type of shell)
• Use thin rubber gloves when treating animals
• Have an annual machine check done using a tester with a
current practicing certificate
• Check for stable vacuum and pulsation
• Have the shed checked for stray voltage. One contact at
the time of printing is Harry Dewes of Hamilton and he has
other contacts. Maybe your local power board can do this
• Follow the SAMM plan. The booklet is available through
Livestock Improvement
86
• Ensure good shed hygiene
• Be mindful how you remove the cups and keep them clean.
This transfers the bacteria, causing new outbreaks
• Avoid hand contact on teats
• Post milking teat dips/ spraying all year round
• Cull constantly infected cows
• Check the history of dams when keeping offspring
• Efficient drying off. (homoeopathic Lac canium will assist
with this)
• A cow needs a minimum of four weeks dried off for the
udder to go through the necessary processes, ready for the
next calving
• Ensure clean and dry stand off areas with plenty of room
• Calve on clean paddocks
• Avoid cows walking in mud
• Do not overmilk or undermilk
• If in doubt, check a cow using rapid mastitis test
• In general use herbs and cider vinegar as a preventative
and homoeopathy for a cure for clinical cases
• Freshly calved cows – put hungry calves on to suck the cow
empty
• Read Managing Mastitis – A Practical Guide for NZ Dairy
Farmers available for $15 from Livestock Improvement.
Treatments
Some treatment considerations
Remember – different causes require different treatments.
In organics we must look at the problem quite differently and
aim to treat the whole organism. In the words of Juliette de
Bairacli Levy (1988) ‘herbal treatment is a tonic to the whole
organism and will leave the cow so treated in better health than
she enjoyed before the onset of the disease’.
We must
• Identify the problem. If you can’t – get a vet to diagnose
• Brain storm and research the possible options
• Decide on the treatment
• Ask why did it happen?
• What could be the causes?
• What does the cow need to do to remove that infection?
• What is happening to that cow?
• How can I help her?
• What preventative measure or treatments (both environ-
mentally and herbal) can I do to stop more animals being
affected?
Nature has given the cow a substance called keratin that grows
on the teat lining and will form a barrier to stop bacteria being
able to enter. It also forms a plug when the cow ceases milking
for the season.
One farmer is having success by stripping the milk from the
infected quarter and giving it back to the cow as a drench
each milking. He also adds colloidal silver. His theory is that
this immunizes, or forces the cow’s immune system to deal
with the particular infection by giving it to her. Many put
mastitis nosode (available from most homeopaths), or take
infected milk from their particular herd and get a homeopath
to potentise it (use a sterile bottle and clean teat. Need 100
ml). The potentised form is then given to all stock (5ml in main
farm tank once a month all year or 1x a week in troughs all
year), so their immune system deals with it and can cope when
an infection occurs.
Note: Please check the section on Colloidal silver earlier in this
chapter before using it.
Ointments applied to the udder and teats
• Peppermint oil ointment is now available from the vet for
swelling. Warning: peppermint oil will reduce milk flow so use
carefully. Also check with your certifying agency before use.
• Whakatane herbalist Tracey Steele has made one up using
pasture species. It is now being manufactured.
• Weleda (phone 06 877 7394) has 2 ointments – Melissa–
marjoram, and argentum ointment
• Marshmallow plant (all parts including roots) finely chopped,
pulped in boiling water. Stir in vegetable fat and allow to set.
Draws the toxins out.
Veterinarian
You may ask for the use of Vitamin C treatment for intravenous
use.
Teat sprays
Iodine based sprays are OK to use
Substances allowed: glycerine, iodine, plant oils, teatree oil etc.
Home made teatspray:
In 20 litre container mix 500ml sorbitol (available from Dairy
Coy) 500 ml aloe vera, 1–2 small bottles teatree oil concentrate
or pure, calendula oil (if available).
Add water to top up.
You can alter these amounts as you experiment. The key
elements are teatree oil, sorbitol and aloe vera.
Udder treatments for acute and hard to fix cases
Using a sterile syringe (without needle) into affected quarter
one of the remedies below:
• 1ml teatree oil to 10ml vegetable oil. Give 10ml
dose 2x a day until cleared and hold milk until
teatree oil has dispersed.
• 1 ml Aloe Vera to 10 ml vegetable oil as above.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
• 1ml teatree oil and 10ml aloe vera as above.
• 1ml manuka honey and 10ml vegetable oil as
above
• Equal parts active manuka honey with distilled
water. Put 10–15mls in affected quarter after each
milking until better.
Caution: Because these treatments and methods have not
been tested for withholding periods or hygiene etc, you are
using them at your own risk.
Herbal and cider vinegar treatments
Mainly used as preventative. If drenching cow with cider vinegar
100– 200mls is the recommended amount.
An old ‘recipe’ that has been used for some Strep.uberis infec-
tions is as follows:
Treatment regime for streptococcal mastitis
6 a.m. 180 ml apple cider vinegar + 180ml water orally
8 a.m. 5ml Lugols iodine + 180 ml apple cider vinegar +
180ml water orally
10 a.m. 180ml apple cider vinegar + 180 ml water orally
(see Coleby, 2002)
12 noon 180ml apple cider vinegar +180 ml water orally
2 p.m. 5ml Lugols iodine + 180ml apple cider vinegar + 180ml
water orally
4 p.m. 180ml apple cider vinegar + 180ml water orally
7 p.m. 180ml apple cider vinegar + 180ml water orally
– Also 60ml of vinegar were poured over the ration of
each cow at twice daily feedings
– Continue for at least three days some cases take up to
18 days.
This method would take a fair bit of dedication but is put here
as another option.
Lugols iodine
Note: Lugol’s iodine will have to be ordered from your
veterinarian or pharmacist.
It consists of 5% elemental iodine in a 10% solution of potas-
sium iodide. This is not stock iodine!
You will have to put in a special order for this at your pharmacy
or veterinary supplier.
Cider vinegar in trough (1 litre/100 cows/day)
Aloe vera as a drench.
Herbs that can be steeped in the cider vinegar
Garlic, sage, marjoram, lemon balm, curly dock, red clover,
echinacea, nettle.
There are probably many more. Check your herb book and the
actions you are trying to promote in the cow e.g. suppuration,
circulation, blood purifier, infection etc.
Clinical cases with swelling
Use packs to reduce swelling and break up congestion.
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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH

• Hot – breaks up bacteria and reduces congestion.

• Cold – removes inflammation.
4. Lice Prevention •
year, so the animals develop an immunity to them.
We have success with elemental sulphur sprinkled down
Brew dock leaves in water and soak rag in that. • Need warmth and blood to thrive The most important thing is to remember there are four main the back from the head to the tail. If lice are bad sometimes
strategies. a second treatment is needed 2 weeks later. It is thought
• Work from head to tail via backbone that lice might be an indication of low soil sulphur levels
New cases and tissue damaged 1) To work out why that animal has lice and what her behav-
• Pick on weaker animals and those that don’t fit in to herd iour is. Then try to find a solution if she appears stressed. so work on correcting those also. (Do not get this in your
Some people give colloidal silver orally for new cases. For
It may be a good idea to put a calf on her or put her in a eyes!!)
tissue, damage colloidal silver must be dosed in conjunction • Endemic during transition
with homoeopathy. Please read the section on Colloidal Silver smaller herd. It may be prudent to mix the heifers and main
• An indicator of herd health Homoeopathy
in this chapter first. herd before calving so they can adjust.
• Observe your animals frequently. • Ledum 30c for puncture wounds made by the lice
2) To remember most treatments only make the environment
Homoeopathy an unpleasant one for the lice so they leave. • Nat mur 30c
Prevention
3) To remember lice do not like strong healthy animals, so • There are other remedies, check with your homoeopath.
• See Homoeopathy section for administration details.
• Mastitis nosode
What is it? keeping their blood and immune system strong through
Herbs
feeding and management is paramount. Keep stress to a
• A nosode made from your own cow’s milk. Contact There are two types of lice. One is a breed that lives on the bits
your homoeopath.
minimum. Herbs with insecticide properties work well. Steep them in cider
and scales on the skin. The other is the sucking type that feed vinegar and drench at 100–200ml. They may be abortive, so
• SSC – Silica, Sulphur, Carbo veg (30c) 4) Treat sick animals both internally and externally.
on the blood of its host. This enables it to breed. be aware.
• Put in water trough 1x a day for 3 days, then 1x
weekly. Or 5ml in main water tank monthly Something to think about:
Initially you will see them as small whitish things moving about • Tansy
• Don’t forget your heifers. Use cider vinegar in the hair. Later, it appears as a darkened area on the skin, and Close contact allows lice to spread and increase more quickly • Wormwood
conjunction with remedies. (e.g. mob stocking in winter dry period). Lice numbers should
the skin appears to be oily. Later, there will be hair loss usually • Penny Royal
Clinical cases around the neck. The animals are itchy, always finding some- fall and obvious signs of lice disappear as animals are given • Garlic
Routine in all cases Aconite 6x thing to rub on. The lice focus in on warmth, knowing this is a a bigger area and feed better (e.g. after calving). This has the
Light flakes SSC 30c source of blood. It will never kill the animal, but could create a effect of less stress as well. Other
Udder shows acute swelling Belladonna 1m secondary condition that could kill. This is because they need • Seawater as an external wash.
Udder swelling is hard Bryonia 30c their host alive for blood. The animal does tend to lose vitality Some treatments:
Clots in milk/stringy Phytolacca 30c or 1m • Bettacrop have organic animal remedies for lice etc that are
and lose condition. •An old remedy from a farming book:
Freshly calved heifers Apis mellifica 6c Bio–Gro approved. Box 9128 Hamilton. Ph (07) 824 4881
Lice are picked up through body contact. They can stay dormant Dissolve 250g soft soap, in 4.5 litres boiling water. Stir in 500ml
Urtica urens 6c kerosene (Soft soap is a form of natural insecticide and pesticide.
www.organics@xtra.co.nz
Watery hard quarter, in cold weather and appear in warmer wetter weather. The If not available try Earthwise, Box 9128 Hamilton)
thick and yellow Staphylcoccus/Streptococcus 30c adult lays the egg, which is glued to the hair. It hatches in 5–6 Add enough cold water to make up to 20 litres. Apply to affected
Tea type Streptococcus 30c days and develops over 28 days to an adult, constantly feeding areas with a brush, thoroughly soaking the hair. Keep the animal
Udder swelling is hard
Watery milk
Bryonia 30c
Calcarea carbonica/Arsenicum alb
on its host. As a result there is always overlap of different stages
present on an animal. The eggs cannot be destroyed. Adult lice
out of the sun, as it will cause skin damage. Repeat 2 to 3 times
over 3 to 4 days. Other skin conditions
30c tend to move from the head of the animal to the tail along the • Brew tobacco powder, flaked garlic, and leaves of geranium • Ringworm: lemon juice. Baccicillum 30c
Black mastitis Lachesis 30c backbone. in 4.5 litres cold water. Simmer 2 minutes. Allow to sit and
Arsenicum Album 30c • Mange
brew for a minimum of 6 hours. Do not strain and rub well
Summer mastitis Hepar Sulphur 6x to suppurate Lice will also only go for weak animals and can sense the ones • Scabies
into body of animal. Apply every few days until the skin is
Abscesses Silica 200c that are struggling emotionally or unable to fit into the pecking
clean.
Last resort Homoeopathic gunpowder 30c order. In a transitional organic system, the animals that tend
Blood in milk Ipecac /Bufo 30c to have a problem with lice are the unhappy ones, those that • 2tsp eucalyptus oil to 4 tsp ammonia mixed in 500ml tepid

5. Ticks
Thick pudding type milk Hep sulphur/ Pulsatilla 30c cannot cope with the conversion. If they do not improve they water and rubbed into the affected area, especially the
should be culled, as they will never overcome their problems. neck.
Selecting homoeopathic remedies on cow behaviour you may
consider: One synthetic drench can be used in Conversion with Demeter, • Rub the neck and backbone well with a mixture of vege-
• Linked to water and warmth
Lying on affected side, but the animal will never be able to be sold as organic meat. table oil and teatree oil.
slow moving Bryonia 30c Check with your certifying agency. • Use animal blood to breed
• (You could probably steep tansy or wormwood or penny
Flighty, highly strung cow
‘dairy type’ Cal phos 30c Usually, once an organic system is in place the victims are royal in the oil for at least a week in the sun before
Peaceful ‘blocky type’ cow Cal carb 30c the young freshly calved heifers that are finding it hard to fit applying to get their insecticide properties as well)
Fights when quarter stripped Phytolacca 30c into the milking herd and a fresh regime. They hang back and
always get picked on, not necessarily finding the best grazing
• Spray using pure pyrethrum (without piperonyl butoxide Strategies:
synergist)
Check potencies and methods of administration with the as a result. The longer you practice organics the least common • Keep your animals healthy and strong.
this problem is. • Neem oil could be worth investigating. Spray 3 times 9–10
homoeopath you contact for your remedies. • Use a teat spray with teatree oil in it to deter them in
days apart.
It is recommended you go to a course on homoeopathics if milking cows. (Recipe in Mastitis section)
• Ask your homeopath to make a nosode if you can get some
you can. • Keep grass short
of the lice off and into a bottle or container. Dose the main
water tank monthly or in troughs 1x a week most of the • Top rushes and long rank grass

88 89
Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
•
•
Avoid grazing on wet areas
Watch the weaker animals
What is it?
• Make sure your grazing patterns and herd management are
as natural as possible to the animals.
What is it?
With our climates getting hotter and wetter in some places,
ticks are becoming more of a problem. Similar to lice, they rely
on a host animal and its nice warm blood to enable them to
multiply.
They are linked to watery aspects of our environment and need
warmth and moisture to survive. Their life cycle is 4 staged. They
go from larvae to nymph to adult while living in the grass. They
then move up the grass to hop onto their host and settle on
them for a week, gorging themselves on blood. After a week
when they are nice and fat, they drop off to lay their eggs in
the grass. All this happens around November and December
and during the summer if there are outbreaks of rain. Their
host can survive if there are only a few, but if it is constant
invasion the animals tend to become anaemic, have sores from
the damage caused by ticks latching on, lose weight and have
ill thrift. As with lice, if the tick has a choice they tend to invade
the weaker animal.
Treatments
• The sprays and drenches for lice in the previous topic
should work.
• If it is a problem try getting a nosode of ticks from your
own property made up by a homeopath.
• Homoeopathic Ledum 30c
• Homoeopathic Nat mur 30c
• Spray the animals with neem oil: spray when there is
evidence of ticks on the animals. Spray, the whole animal,
especially the underbelly at a rate of 0.7%–2% with water
depending on the concentration of the neem. Neem oil is
currently allowed under certification. Neem oil also inter-
rupts the breeding cycle of ticks. If in doubt, check with
your certifying agency.
Prevention
6. Bloat
• Bloat is caused by a build up of gases in the rumen from
fermented grass
• A tendency to bloat is inherited
• Occurs on new damp pasture and specific crops
• Related to levels of nitrogen in the grass
• Prevention is best.
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Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
•
the pastures fed to them
Dry bran on the hay (lots of it) also helps to lessen fermen-
7. Facial eczema
A cow gorging on damp pasture that is lush, has grown tation
• Caused by fungal toxins on pasture
quickly, and is clover dominant may develop bloat. This type
• When sowing new grasses, look for variety and have a • Warm humid weather and decaying litter are factors
of pasture tends to have a low roughage rate. It often occurs
mixed sward, especially chicory
when overnight temperatures drop. Bacteria in the rumen • Affects the liver
produce methane and CO2 gases as they break down food. • Treat the troughs with a suitable detergent or permitted
• Prevention is the only cure.
Some chemicals from the clover combine with the gas to form
a stable foam which builds up pressure in the rumen. As bloat
anti foaming agent
• Cchamomile tea could be used
develops, the animal’s breathing becomes laboured and they
• Spraying the pasture with vegetable oil (especially linseed
grunt and groan. The cow’s sides become enlarged and the
animal may try to lick its flanks. If serious enough the cow will
oil) or paraffin prior to grazing. (Check with your certifying What is it?
agency first)
lose balance and can die rapidly. Facial eczema is caused by toxins from the spores of the sapro-
• Treat individual animals prone to bloat with vegetable oil phytic fungus known as Pithomyces chartarum. This fungus is
Cows will try to help themselves by standing uphill to help the
or baking soda important to the breakdown of ryegrass litter. This fungus lives
gas escape by belching. This also gets weight off the diaphram
to enable easier breathing. They will often try to find a position • Homoeopathic chamomile 1–2 weeks before 1x a day for in dead vegetative material in pastures, especially ryegrass.
in a breeze with cooler air. 3 days then 1x a week, stepping up to every day if the It rises up and multiplies between January and May when the
presence of bloat is a possibility weather becomes warm, wet and humid. Light rain or dew,
The predisposition to bloat is inherited – so breeding against
warm nights and litter in the pasture are usually the most
bloating is an option to help reduce the problem. • Cider vinegar in trough regularly
common triggers. Overnight grass minimum temperatures have
A well run organic farm should not have clover dominant • Garlic, nasturtium and cider vinegar drenched to animals
to be warmer than 12ºC for 2 to 3 nights or more. The youngest
pastures. Their pastures should be a mixture of grasses, clovers • 20ml orange roughy oil drenched twice daily spores are the most toxic and a spore count above 60,000 is
and herbs, and should have grown over a longer period. All
• Once the clover starts to flower the bloats season is usually considered dangerous.
these factors should mean bloat not being a serious problem on
organic farms. The main problem areas appear to be associated over because of the high tannins in the flower. The spores are soil born, so they live in the lower areas of the
with new grass paddocks where clover may be dominant. Crops pasture on dead ryegrass litter. Often there is a mineral or
such as lucerne, turnips and greenfeed may also cause bloat if bacterial imbalance in the soil. This then allows the fungi to
become more dominant and create an imbalance.
cattle gorge themselves or the crop has grown rapidly. Grazing
management that does not lead to animals gorging themselves
Treatment The spores generally cannot survive in hot dry weather, or cooler
can minimise the bloat problem. • Vegetable oil (linseed oil preferable) or liquid paraffin or t e m p e ra t u r e s.
It still pays to be mindful of the possibility of bloat occurring. fat (85–118ml diluted in water). Check on paraffin and Facial Eczema Chain reaction Heavy rain will
fat with certifying agency. wash the spores
Potassium: Sodium ratios in the diet is a factor Toxin in litter down the plant
• If beginning to sway and be bad, use a bloat knife for a
K : Na rumenotomy. Stab the cow’s left flank.
6 making them
30–50 : 1 definitely dangerous Liver unable to metabolise unavailable to
• Mild cases – get them walking especially towards an up 6 be taken in by the
10–15 : 1 ideal
hill position. Toxin accumulates in blood animal.
Lower bloat on organic farms is lower plant K in 6
• Post trauma – The toxin, spori-
relation to Na levels. Photosensitization of white skin
– linseed tea (flax seed boiled in water and steeped) desmin, that is
A grass sample test will show you this. Look for shade, twitch ears repeatedly.
produced, is one
Further Information: Work done by Max Turner – Massey University – powdered charcoal or crushed charcoal tablets given Dark green diarrhoea
that the animal’s
with milk to remove any lingering gases. Coat dry and harsh, ill thrift and lose condition
liver cannot
– teas of fennel, dill, peppermint, German chamomile, Listless, fidgety, sunburn on teats, noses etc.
metabolise. As a
ginger, or lemon balm to sooth. See the previous Herbal section 6 result the toxin
on how to make teas. Itching, swollen, scabs, redness.
accumulates in
6 their blood supply
• Select the pastures you put your animal on and try not • Homoeopathics: 1 treatment every 10 mins for 4 times,
Loss of appetite
put them in hungry. Avoid putting them on before the dew
lifts.
then review. Can be included with other treatments
above.
6
Gross number of toxins
and photosen-
sitising occurs.
Symptoms appear
• Put the cows on the night paddock half an hour before Frothy Antimonium crudum 6c/ Apis 6c 6 ten to twelve days
evening milking to prevent them gorging themselves after Less acute Carbo veg 6c Liver gives up
after ingestion.
the evening milking. Bad Colchium 1m 6
Malfunction of liver
• Spraying biodynamic preparation 501 on pastures will
strengthen the plant and making it easier to digest.
6
Goes down at calving or stress times
• A supplement of hay (roughage) before putting them on
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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
Photosensitization occurs especially in non–pigmented skin
(white areas of the udder, ears or nose). Facial eczema affected
animals may survive the initial attack, but because their liver is
damaged, the animal may succumb to feed stress or metabolic
diseases at some late stage.
Facial eczema does not seem to be a problem on organic farms
where they have developed healthy soils and good mixed
pastures: pastures are not so ryegrass dominant, any litter is
broken down and incorporated into soil organic matter quickly
and generally animals are not grazed as hard as on many
conventional farms. A combination of these factors can explain
the situation on organic farms. You will notice they do not have
the litter on the ground for these spores to live in.
Prevention
is the best cure – the effects are not easily reversed.
Organic certifying agencies recognise the problems associated
with facial eczema and allow remedies to be used as preven-
tion. It is best to begin earlier rather than later. Homoeopathic
Zincum met 30c in the trough will also help the animals utilise
the zinc.
Currently: (These are constantly changing)
Bio–Gro allows zinc oxide or zinc sulphate where
pasture spore counts indicate a definite need.
Demeter allows zinc oxide as a restricted substance
and can be used where spore counts indicate a need.
AgriQuality does not specify.
Please check your certifying agency’s current standards
before using these.
Other considerations
• Reduce the spore intake by having a forage crop (e.g. bras-
sicas) or a supplement (e.g. silage) as part of the summer
programme. These allow higher grazing residuals and are
very useful to help prevent FE in young stock.
• If the risk is rising, put zinc sulphate in troughs daily. There
are interactions with, especially with copper and selenium;
and farms deficient in these trace elements should consult
their vet before using too much zinc sulphate.
• Give them shade, especially affected animals.
• Affected animals should be fed well and have no stress to
enable them to recover.
• Be aware when topping prior to a possible dry period, as
this can cause litter. Maybe it might be better to leave that
grass standing up. An alternative may be to keep those
paddocks out of the round in December, and have it as a
mature pasture or standing hay when the flush of grass
appears, break feeding it off. This also has the added
advantage of restocking pasture species and giving the
paddock a rest.
• Don’t forget your young stock – they are more prone.
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Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
• Identify your paddocks that have the potential for the
toxins. Avoid them, and use later as standing hay or use it
Drench the animal with 1⁄2 cup castor oil, 1 tablespoon linseed
oil, 1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil and 1⁄2 teaspoon cod liver oil. This 8. Milk fever (Hypocalcaemia)
as a small portion of daily feed with a crop or silage. is good for recovery and provides the fat soluble vitamins
needed. • A metabolic disease caused by a nutrient imbalance
• Exposed windy paddocks have fewer spores.
Access to willow bark and green leaves – contains aspirin and • Lack of blood calcium
• Cull early to reduce pressure on grazing.
helps alleviate symptoms, i.e. cut down branches and let • Usually affects older cows.
• Check how much dead litter you have in the base of your cows browse – they will go for them.
pastures.
A lick with seaweed, zinc sulphate (check this is allowed),
• Remember the lower the animals graze the more likely they
are to pick up the spores.
vitamin C and cider vinegar mixed together.
What is it?
Access to honey locust pods help.
• Paspalum and low fertility species such as poa, brown top, Milk fever is a metabolic disease that can occur within 2 days
sweet vernal, danthonias, lotus major, flat weeds is a safer Help the skin and wounds from further sunburn with ointments: before or 2 days after calving. It is at a time when the grass
pasture. Ryegrass seems to be the problem. is high in calcium in the month prior to calving. There can also
• A zinc ointment sold by vets.
• Avoid extremes of grazing – from dry pasture to lush fresh
pasture, or under-supply to over-supply of feed. Graze
• Charcoal or soot mixed with Vaseline or lard
be an imbalance of calcium and magnesium. Excessive potas-
sium and nitrogen also contribute to this imbalance that can
animals on matured pastures and give them a constant • 30ml zinc oxide mixed with benzoated lard 120ml. cause milk fever. There is a drop in calcium in the blood due to
supply. Supplements are a good alternative. Try Brassica Benzoine is a tincture used to preserve and stop fungus the mechanism for calcium becoming inefficient and hence an
crops. from growing and can be purchased through the chemist. imbalance in nutrients just at the time when the animal has an
immediate need for it. There is a high pH in the intestines and
• Use your local newspaper ( the climate or rural section), • Spray aloe vera on the skin, then cover with a zinc
this suppresses calcium and magnesium absorption.
MAF or consulting officer or check on the websites for up ointment/peanut oil paste. (This stays on quite well
to date counts if your unable to monitor them yourself. compared to some ointments) The hormone PTH needs magnesium to function too, so if
there is not enough of this then the whole bone mobilisation
www.dexcel.co.nz • If the animal develops lice, these must be treated before
of calcium falls over. Hence the reason for using magnesium
treating the eczema.
www.fencepost.com supplements prior to calving.
• Manderson’s Mixture
Susceptibility to milk fever can be inherited and tends to affect
This mixture is recommended when you have a cow/heifer or calf
that has been affected by facial eczema. The white areas of cows 5 years or older. The animals are usually in excellent condi-
Treatments for Facial Excema the animal’s skin can crack and peel and this mixture of oils can
be given orally to assist the skin healing process. This mixture
tion and have had access to lush pasture prior to calving.
can also be used in cases of ‘spring eczema’ which has a slightly Most fully certified organic farms do not strike this problem due
Use at the first signs of irritation or skin damage – you will different aetiology, however, the resultant damage to the skin is to the grass being in better balance through more consistent
usually see the cow irritated days before you see any damage. the same.
growth.
Manderson’s mixture is available from Dominion Chemicals,
Homoeopathic: East Tamaki, Auckland, or you could source the raw ingredients • First signs are restlessness and disorientation, followed by
yourself and mix your own. depression and paralysis.
Prevention: Zincum met 30c alternated Castor oil 88%
with mineral compound • She shows weakness in her hind legs, staggers falls down
Linseed oil 6%
(available from HFS) and is unable to rise again.
Cod-liver oil 3%
First signs of skin damage Olive oil 3% • Her temperature drops.
and to counteract effects The dose recommended is 85ml per adult cow (reduce propor-
• She lies on her breastbone with her neck in an S shape
tionally for younger cattle) and to repeat in 2–3 days as required.
esp. on white cows Hypericum 30c against her right or left flank.
• 1⁄2 cup castor oil
Redness, swelling, itches • She appears asleep, her eyes glazed and dilated.
1 tablespoon linseed oil
on skin Sulphur 30c
1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil • If untreated this can lead to a coma and eventual death
Inflammation and oozing Rhus tox 1m 1⁄2 teaspoon cod-liver oil within a few hours.
of serum from skin Graphites 30c This dose is for a cow. Smaller doses would help a sheep to recover.
• Another test is the fluid in the eye of a fresh dead animal
Liver damage Chelidonium 30c • To help with itching alternate the following solutions on to get accurate information on calcium magnesium levels.
the affected skin (see Waterman, 1980):
Skin and hair repair Arsenicum alb 30c Ask your vet for details.
– 15 ml Boracic acid and 240ml water
Effects of sun Sol 30c
– 30ml Creolin and 1 litre water
There is also a homoeopathic nosode available. When a healthy scab is has establish use:
– 30ml Creolin and 500ml sweet oil Prevention
Other treatments
• Peach tree leaves and bark are a source of zinc. You could Avoid a complete change of diet when calving.
2 cups cold pressed linseed oil/cow for 2 days; 1/2 cup linseed make a tea out of them by pouring boiling water over
• Avoid lush pasture and have the animals on not too tight
oil/calf for 2 days (too much is poisonous). Also check with them, steep for up to 6 hours and then add to trough or
your certifying agency first. drench. rations the final 3 weeks before calving. This is to avoid
93
Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE
a change of diet soon after calving. One suggestion is to
ensure cows have 1–2 hours grazing on grass a day
• Feed hay that contains a good percentage of clover. This
will increase the calcium content, while at the same time
through the extra chewing, increase the amount of saliva
reaching the gut and therefore helping to stabilise the pH.
• Give her a dose of 2 tablespoons Epsom salts in one cup
of the cows’ own milk 24 hrs before calving to discourage
over–rapid production of milk. (Note: check your standards
and make sure you are allowed to use it)
• Animals are unable to store magnesium in their body, so it
needs to be administered daily
• Keep a close eye on your cows 5 years and over
• Weekly doses of homoeopathic Cal phos and Mag phos
in the trough weekly last 3 months and first 4 weeks of
lactation to help the animal metabolise both
• Vitamin D will help the animal metabolise the calcium
• Provide lime flour to colostrum cows by pasture dusting,
with molasses (high in calcium) or other feeds. (Check with
your certifying agency first.)
• Ensure the cow’s diet is not high in potassium (K) especially
pre and post calving.
Current Standards: (these may change)
• Bio–Gro allows injections of calcium borogluconate
or natural vitamin D. They also allow addition of
magnesium and/or phosphorous salts to metabolic
solutions to allowed to help with recovery.
• Demeter allows calcium borogluconate prepara-
tions to be used as a restricted remedy when needed.
Magnesium sulphate is also restricted. Calcined
magnesite, chalk and dolomite are also permitted.
• AgriQuality allow calcium gluconate, calcium
lactate, calcium carbonate, and shells of aquatic
animals. Also magnesium sulphate, chloride,
carbonate and anhydrous magnesia.
Please check your certifying agency’s current standards before
using these.
Calcined magnesite is also known as magnesium oxide and causmag.
Treatments
• Common sense with any milk fever case is to warm the cow
up. Parallel to treatments is the importance to get them out
of the wind and the wet ground. Get them in the barn, put
a cover over them or whatever you have to do to get them
warm.
94
• Additions to hay could be: dolomite, molasses, liquid
seaweed and cider vinegar
• Administer 25% calcium in the vein as an IV solution. The
secret is to allow this to go into the vein slowly – let it take
15 minutes.
• Alternative, as soon as you detect milk fever inject a bottle
of calcium borogluconate under the skin using a flutter
valve. If necessary, administer another later
• Keep her warm and cover if she is cold
• Do not milk the cow out completely for 2–3 days or leave
the calf on the cow for 36 hours
• Move her from one side to another every day while she is
down. Give her molasses
• Plants rich in calcium – watercress, crushed nettles,
molasses, chickweed, comfrey, alfalfa, willow twigs and
boughs, root crops, poplar, tagasaste, birch, barberry,
plantain, red clover, raspberry, rosemary, shepherd’s purse.
Many have a balance of calcium and magnesium. Plant
them or make a tincture with cider vinegar when they are
growing to drench the animals with it at calving
• Immediately give calcium and iodine rich drench with 2
handfuls powdered seaweed mixed with 1kg molasses. This
is then mixed with warm water or milk to make it runny,
drinkable consistency. Repeat this hourly
• Another is 1 cup molasses, 4 tbsp linseed oil or meal, 2 tbsp
salt, 2 tbsp calcined magnesite or dolomite. Give as a lick
on feed.
• A salt lick recipe used:
– 10 litre bucket of seaweed powder
– 10 litres cider vinegar
– 10 litres water or molasses
– 20 litre bucket of salt
– 1 sack of dolomite
Mix all together in a concrete mixer, liquids first then
solids
Epsom salts can be added or replace the salt to add more
magnesium. Please check with your certifying agency first.
Homoeopathic
Violent movements Belladonna 1m
Staring pupils can be alternated with Aconite 30c
Prevention Cal phos 30c/Mag phos 30c weekly
Overall Mag phos/Cal carb/ Belladonna 30c
To prevent deficiency Mag phos 30c
Twitching
Nervous peripheral parts Stramomium 200c
Col extremities, pain,
oppressed breathing Ammonium causticum 30c
Comatose Opium 200c
Phosphorus 30c
Recovering and
Relieving cramp Cuprum met 1m
Bloated Colchium 200c
Severe Cicuta 30c
Tossing head, no
balance. Rising on
fore legs only Nux vomica 30c
Prevention of it
recurring once OK Sulphur 30c
Signs
9. Grass staggers (Hypomagnesaemia)
• Caused by low levels of magnesium
• Sudden stress is a trigger
• Can be confused with milk fever or ketosis
• Timing after calving is the key indicator
• Prevention prior to calving is best.
What is it?
Grass staggers is a low blood level of magnesium. Magnesium
is held in the muscle and used by the muscles and nerves.
The heavy milkers we are breeding in NZ are secreting lots
of calcium and magnesium through their milk. This results in
fluctuations in blood levels. Grass staggers can occur up to 12
weeks post calving in the spring when the grass is short and
growing rapidly. A tendency to this illness can be inherited.
Sudden stress brings it on.
The grass and ground levels of magnesium can be high or low
and this metabolic disease can still strike. It indicates more an
imbalance of minerals, particularly with calcium and potassium.
Too high a level of potassium in the diet suppresses magne-
sium absorption from the rumen. This indicates a farm heavily
manured will be prone to grass staggers. Young grass in this
Prevention
type of scenario will be rich in protein and potassium and low
in calcium, making the magnesium hard to take up in the body.
Mature grass is normally high in calcium.
Too high a level of potassium in the diet suppresses magne-
sium absorption from the rumen. This occurs in rapidly growing
grass. Use of lower potassium feeds such as hay, more mature
grass etc. have a real benefit at this time of the year if staggers
is a problem. High potassium (K) will be an issue for many farms
still in the conversion process and/or on soils with a naturally
high available K.
Organic farming combined with the use of Biodynamic prepara-
tions 500, compost preparations, and preparation 501 at the
appropriate times can eventually avoid this problem.
Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH
• A sudden change to low mineral content ,
especially in spring
• Excitement for some reason
• A chill from cold, wet weather
• A cow needs 10–20 gm magnesium per day
• Because magnesium is held in the muscle and is
important for nerve function, it has a short life in
the body especially if there is any stress.
• Nervous, irritable, aggressive, twitching eyes, jumpy, anti
social.
• Staggering and taking high steps, thrashing at sides, eyes
glaring.
• Collapsed, coma, unconscious, leading to death. Brain
damage can occur.
Beware: It can be confused with milk fever or ketosis
(sometimes called pregnancy toxaemia) due to the
symptoms. They all occur at the same time of the year.
Timing is the key to a more accurate diagnosis.
• Milk fever usually occurs before or straight after
calving.
• Grass staggers occurs later after calving and the
animal usually goes down at the shed or straight
after being milked.
• Ketosis has the same nervous symptoms but she
tends to be losing weight fast yet there is a good
feed supply. This also happens after she has calved
– sometimes a long time after.
• Age and obesity is a predisposing factor.
Give prevention remedies prior to calving for good insurance.
• Give mineral licks before and after calving. These are avail-
able, but please keep the labels for certification and ensure
they do not have any prohibited materials in them. If in
doubt, check with your certifying agency.
• One mix is: 25kg Epsom salts, 25kg dolomite (check for
possible heavy metals), and 8 litres molasses. Note: Epsom
salts is a restricted treatment and most certifying standards
are specific on what you can use it for. Please check with
your certifying agency before using it.
• If staggers is a problem, feed molasses or 35–75 gm/
cow/day of Epsom salts, or 50–60 g/cow/day of calcined
magnesite or dolomite on hay or silage prior to calving. This
will balance the high protein content in pasture as well as
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supplying a ration of magnesium.
• The calcined magnesite and dolomite at the above rates
can be dusted onto pastures one to two days before
grazing.
• Epsom salts can be put into troughs at the above rate.
However for full effect the troughs must be the only water
supply for the herd.
• Homoeopathic Cal phos/Mag phos and Kali phos 30c in
trough weekly 2 months before and after calving. This can
be done in conjunction with the above suggestions.
• If you need to lime, consider topdressing with dolomite.
Dolomite has calcium and magnesium in it. Check its
heavy metal levels first.
• Avoid sudden feed changes. Save up and use older pasture
for first 6 weeks after calving. If this is not possible, supple-
ment fresh young grass with hay or silage. Put cider vinegar
in the trough each day.
• Spray pastures with biodynamic preparation 501 during
the ascending phase to bring light into the pasture and
strengthen it.
• Give the animals sheltered paddocks in cold and stormy
weather.
• Do not breed from animals prone to grass staggers.
What the certifying agencies currently
allow (These may change)
Bio–Gro – magnesium chloride, dolomite, magnesite. You
can add magnesium and/or phosphorous salts to metabolic
solutions to assist recovery. Epsom salts is restricted as a
fertiliser.
Demeter – Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) is restricted,
magnesium chloride is restricted. Calcined magnesite, chalk,
dolomite is allowed.
AgriQuality – anhydrous magnesia, magnesium sulphate,
magnesium chloride, magnesium carbonate.
Calcined magnesite is also known as magnesium oxide and causmag.
Remember check your copy of the certifying agency standards
and if in doubt contact your certifying agency.
Treatment
Keep them warm, quiet and avoid loud and sudden noises.
Homoeopathically
To help them recover and limit the damage to the central
nervous system give Mag phos 30c plus:
Cramps/ spasms. Mild cases Cuprum aceticum 30c
Convulsions and dilated pupils Belladonna 1M
Tendency to fall to the left side Stramomium 200c
If down, raises and lowers head
Neck twisted or backwards,
twitching Cicuta virosa 200c
10. Infertility
• Can be a multitude of reasons
• Learn to understand the process of oestrus
• There are some good practices to follow
• Close observations are important
What is it?
Infertility is the inability of an animal to conceive and/or
produce a fulltime calf. These animals are regarded as ‘empties’
when pregnancy testing is carried out, and are often culled at
the end of the milking or rearing season, depending on your
regime. If you are calving year round, or split calving, there is
a chance she may get pregnant at the next round of mating.
This, in turn, can be a factor in breeding infertile animals if it is
not monitored well.
Infertility seems to be a problem with herds both conventional
and organic. There is no obvious reason why but there are
many possibilities. The main reason is underfeeding and the
under-nourishing of animals. Another is a history of focusing
in on production, rather than longevity and fertility, resulting
in a strong push to breed high producers, which are so busy
producing milk, that they have no reserves left to begin oestrus.
Others are temperamental factors, early abortions, and 2 year
olds teething. Endocrine dysfunction is another cause and this
includes silent heats, anoestrus, cystic ovaries, frequent returns,
uterine and genital infections, and persistent corpus iuteum.
Natural mating sees the bull naturally insert a small amount
of semen with high density of sperm into the vagina. One of
A hypothesis:
Sometimes one of the problems during artificial insemination
that can occur is when a technician places a small amount of
semen through a tube into the uterus. Because there has been
no stimulus and foreplay from the bull, the hormones are not
in full gear and have not switched on the mechanisms to assist
with fertilisation. Therefore the uterine identifies this semen as
a foreign body and pushes the semen away, rejecting it.
If injury by the technician occurs, blood is an effective spermi-
cide. Rough or insensitive handling by a technician can also
lead to reverse peristalsis. Long–term use of AI may develop a
sterile cow in terms of fertility, because of the suppression of
behaviour patterns associated with mating. Through the lack of
natural patterns, the cow is unable to or reluctant to come into
heat, resulting in anoestrus.
This is a topic that could create much discussion.
This is more fully explained in Biodynamic Perspectives
– Farming and Gardening, edited by Gita Henderson.
Published by the NZ Farming and Gardening Assn, P O
Box 39 045, Wellington. pp 86–91, A Critical Look at
Reproduction Technology by Jorg Spranger.
What is oestrus?
It is when a cow comes ‘in season’. It lasts approx 15 hours for
cows and 10 hours for heifers.
There are 3 stages:
1. Coming into heat
a. Aggressive, restless
b. Disturbs other cows – I want your attention
c. Or stands alone or away from other cows – I feel
different.
2. Approaching a standing heat
a. Holds milk, vulva swollen
b. Smooching up to other
cows
c. Paws ground and frequent
urination
2. Standing heat.
a. Stands to be ridden –
I want to play
b. Front mounts other cows
The five stages of the oestrus cycle:
1) Pro–oestrus – the Graafian follicle grows leading to
follicular fluid
2) Oestrus – the period of excitement and desire, the ovary is
matured
3) Metoestrus – the day after, leads to the rupture of the
follicle and explosion of ovum
4) Dioestrus – the uterine walls thicken and the uterine glands
are active. If pregnancy happens this continues. If not a
new oestrus cycle begins
5) Anoestrus – inactivity period. If the animal is healthy this
lasts 21 days.
Prevention
Good practices and things to know for efficient mating:
• Mark on your calendar in bold, 60 days prior to the
first day of mating. Make sure you never let your cows
go hungry from that day until the end of your mating
programme.
• Keep good records of oestrus/heats and mating.
• The first heat usually occurs within 40 days of calving and
then every 18–24 days.
• A 65% to 70% AI conception rate is considered accept-
able.
• The animals must be in good condition – score 4.5 (well
covered backbone) to 5 (well covered back and hip bones)
and on a rising plane of nutrition.
• Fat cows and skinny cows usually fail to conceive.
• Check cows that have had difficult births. You may need to
help them clean their uterus.

the cow’s response to the smell of the bull is to bring on heat c. Mucus near vulva
Initially administer an injection into the blood stream of calcium
(25%), magnesium (4%), and dextrose (25%). This gives them and the mating itself. The contractions from a stimulated cow d. Hair rubbed off tail base
the calcium and a little magnesium. through lots of foreplay, enables the hormones to be interacting e. Raised tail and arched
fully, rhythmically helping the sperm to move towards the uterus back.
Then follow this with a dose of magnesium sulphate (40%)
and begin fertilisation. Artificial insemination is used widely,
under the skin. Do not put the magnesium sulphate in the Ovulation occurs 14 hours after
and it is reliant on the cows in the herd to produce the stimula-
vein – you will kill her! Other doses can be followed in 12 the end of oestrus.
tion in preparation for mating.
hourly intervals. These products are available from your vet.

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• Watch your second calvers. They are usually the hardest to

get in calf
Some treatments for anoestrus 11. Calving Some suggestions to help with
problems encountered
• Lessen stress: look at your herd size and make up. Maybe
Homoeopathics: • Good management is important
the group needs to be smaller. These are many and varied. You will not need to use all of them.
A good general remedy is Sepia 200c. Unless recommended • Aim to have fit and healthy cows
• Late oestrus is usually due to lower protein levels in the Pick out the ones you feel happy with and have the resources
otherwise, give only once. Folliculinum given 1xday for 3 days
grass early spring because of the lack of nitrogen fixing by • Keep things as natural as possible for.
is helpful.
clover. Because if this it may be wise to allow mating to • Several herbal and homoeopathic remedies are available
last 3 months. Temperamental Factors Pre calving
• Make up a calving kit of remedies.
Refusal to mate Sepia 200c 1x wk for 3 wks • Cider vinegar in trough. Others – aloe, seaweed,
• Put your non–cycling cows, especially your skinny ones, on
Calving should be straight forward if you have fit, healthy seawater.
once a day. Get a vet in to diagnose the problem. Abortion (early stage) Viburnum opulus 30c
cows. At times, however, problems do crop up. • Herbs to steep with cider vinegar or make as a tea:
• Check bulls for testes and feet. Sepia 200c
i. Garlic, stinging nettle, chickweed (general health)
• Have 1 bull to every 25 heifers.
Silent heats (winter problem) Sepia 200c 1x only ii. Fennel (promote milk flow and let down – use 1 week
• It is a good idea to change the bull regularly, say every 2–3
days depending on how busy things are. Leuchorrhea Pulsatilla 30c
Strategies to make calving easier prior & 1 week post calving)
iii. The native shrub Pate helps with parturition
• With chin ball markers, check their marker every 2–3 days. • Choose a bull from easier calving lines. Look at him care-
Creamy discharge Cal phos 30c
Have a different colour for each bull. fully – his shoulders, rump. Check his temperament. iv. Red raspberry leaves (fresh or dried) (promotes
Also douche 1tsp Dettol or few healthy uterus).
• With teaser bulls, keep a close eye out for heat detection. • Give your cows a walk every 3 days to keep them fit.
drops teatree oil in 1 litre warm
Change the bulls every 4–5 days. Have 3–4 bulls for 100 • Dry off 8–12 weeks before calving depending on condition Homoeopathics
water. 3x day until Discharge
cows. and grass availability. The udder goes through a period
ceases. Boil gear after each use • Caullophyllum 30c in trough 6 weeks, 3 weeks and 1
• Tail painting and heat detectors are the most common to avoid reinfection. of involution, getting ready for calving. The cow needs a
week prior to calving and 1x post calving. (good remedy
methods used to check for cows ready for mating. minimum of four weeks dry.
Catarrhal discharge for toning uterus)
• If hand mating, give the bull 1–2 cows at a time to avoid During urination Platina 30c • Cows should be a score 5 one month before calving. It
• Cal phos/Mag phos/Silicea 30c to prevent milk fever. Add
wastage of semen. Restrict the bulls to 8–10 services a is important they have a layer of fat on the hips, ribs,
Kali phos 30c to Cal phos/Mag phos/Kali phos 30c to
day. Silent heat backbone, tail base and rump.
prevent grass staggers.
Retained placenta Pulsatilla 30c
• If there is little activity close to AI, put the bull in for a few • Skinny cows may need to be dried off earlier and given
• Arnica 30c 1x a week in trough to ease delivery and calving
days, just to remind the cows it’s mating time again. Small, shrivelled ovaries Iodum 30c unlimited grazing, and fed hay or good silage until 3–4
paralysis.
weeks before calving to build up condition.
• Sunshine and warm weather have a big effect on oestrus. 2 weeks prior to calving could give laxative once or twice to
Cystic ovaries Apis mellifica 6c
More cows come into season on those days. Oestrus lasts • In the final 3–4 weeks prior to calving there is an active
suspect cows: pulped carrots, bran mash, and ground oats,
longer in sunshine days than in wintry days. Murex purpurea 30c development of the foetus and excess grazing will only
linseed meal.
Colocynthis 30c result in a bigger calf for calving time.
• If trying to mate when weather is not so kind, especially To initiate labour
cloudy weather, try putting liquid seaweed in the trough • Break feed rough mature grass and hay the last 3–4
Frequent heats Pulsatilla 30c To help bring calving on – Caullophyllum 200c
or drenching them with it. (This has iodine in it – essential weeks before calving. Block graze them so they do not
for hormonal activity) Cal phos 30c over indulge. The shape of the break influences the amount Heifers starting but not progressing – Gelsemium 30c
Iodum 30c of walking and therefore potential for mud/soil damage,
• High energy molasses in low sunshine periods increase Threatened abortion
especially in wet weather; (i.e. a square is better than a thin
energy levels of the diet and help. Pasture growing in Oopherinum 30c long rectangle). Give a concentration of vitamin C
extended low sunshine is lower in energy than when there
is adequate sunshine. Infection of uteris Hep sulph 30c • There is much controversy over the best method of feeding Blackcurrant, rosehip juice. Blackberry, black currant, straw-
the week before calving from all hay to lots of grass to berry, hawthorn, also contain Vitamin C.
• Another herbal help is cider vinegar. Mercurius Sol 30c
develop the udder. The rule of thumb is usually to ensure Homoeopathic Sabina 30c
• Mineral imbalances in the grass and the animals can be a Hydrastatis 30c the cow gets grazing on pasture. Feed pasture and hay the
factor of anoestrus. Selenium is the most important. Checks Pulsatilla 30c first few days after calving to avoid metabolic problems. During and post calving
on copper, iodine and vitamin B12 (cobalt) help to identify
• Put homoeopathic caullophyllum in the trough 6 weeks, 3 Several procedures have been described in books. Mother
overall health,which is important for this situation. Check After conception Viburnum opulis 30c once only
weeks and 1 week before calving. This helps the uterus to nature usually allows a cow to calve with no problems and
with a blood test. Helps prevent abortions prepare. then lets her lick her young and then the calf will suckle
• Fat bulls are not very fertile, as their sperm become infer- her. All these processes are important to allow the glands,
• Don’t forget about milk fever and grass staggers preven-
tile. muscles and nerves to perform, as they should to allow a
tion. Check these sections for information.
• Using virgin bulls on your herd helps eliminate most of the natural state (see de Bairacli Levy, 1991).
Tip: If you want cows calving during the day rather than at
risks that opponents of natural mating bring up.
night, move them onto their fresh break in the afternoon rather
• Treat cows post calving that have had damage during than the early morning. An old practice, which is dying out but
calving or post calving infections. seems to work.

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Homoeopathic Remedies for:

Recovery and deep bruising Arnica/Bellis Perens 200c
Arnica 30c or 1m will also aid with recovery
Hypericum 30c will assist with sore, bruised, shooting
Metritis (infection of the uterus)
It can be a cause of infertility and even death through blood
12. Lameness
or tearing pain, especially in the lower back. poisoning. Begins with healthy but whitish pus discharging • Can have one of many causes
Grief and putting uterus back Sepia 30c
Bryonia 30c will help with muscular pain. from the vagina. Leads on to loss of appetite, high temp, brown
Caesarean Arnica 30c • Poor feet are inherited
or yellow pus if not dealt with.
Higher potencies may benefit here. • Be observant – deal with the problem sooner rather than
Milk let down and flow Belladonna 30c • Give a laxative 500gm Epsom salts and repeat half doses
later
Bright red blood and Bladder problems in two days if the effects of the first dose are not quite
clotting. Feverish Belladonna 30c marked. (Check with your certifying agency re Epsom • Prevent by using footbaths.
Herbs and grasses that are helpful – raw carrots, parsnips,
salts)
Watery bright red and yarrow, charcoal, shepherd’s purse, linseed tea, cleavers
clots. Persistent Sabina 30c (bidibidi), raw peas, parsley, comfrey, seaweed, cherry stalks • Mild cases, a douche of antiseptic solution (teatree oil) into
After pains Sabina 30c and twigs, heather, fennel, chicory, couch grass. the uterus.
What is it?
• Homoeopathically:
When taking away Dead foetus not expelled Several things can cause lameness:
calf (grief, parting) Ignatia 30c Aconite 30c for emotional shock and fears
These often go rotten inside the animal. Douching twice daily • The bugs Dicalybacter nodosus/Fusibacterium necroph-
For possessiveness of calf Pulsatilla 30c with clean water, teatree oil and colloidal silver along with Sabina 30c bright blood stained, retaining
orum, Arccinobacter pyogenes and Bacteroides Nosodus
echinacea by mouth and belladonna homoeopathically. Cider placenta
(affects sheep) that live in the soil and the mud in races.
Paralysis vinegar and rosemary is another remedy. Secale 30c dark fluid blood, lean appearance
• Keep her constantly warm. • Laminitis
Note: Before using Colloidal Silver, please be sure to read the Pyrogenum/
• Give her fresh food and water each day and lift her up. section in this chapter. • Inflammation of joints and muscles
silica 30c to remove the infection – push it out.
Change the sides she lays on each day. • Trauma causing damage to the foot through:
Severe cases
Retained membranes
• Fast the animals, giving only water or water, milk, molasses Injury through sharp stones or sticks
It is important to allow the calf to suckle and be licked by her Belladonna 1m fever etc
the day after calving to allow the body to put everything Overgrown toenails and frames of the feet
right. mother to stimulate the nerves of the cow’s uterus and allow Echinaecea 30c to help body fight septicaemia signs
removal of the membranes. If a heifer is reluctant to lick, put Fescue grass
• Watch for uterine infections as the cows can’t empty their Lachesis 30c throat swollen, limbs swollen
molasses on the calf. White line disease (a hoof weakness caused by poor
bladders properly. Mercurius 30c
• 2.5 litres beer, 500g brown sugar (or molasses), 56g nutrition).
• 250gm Epsom Salts 1–2x a week as a drench to action Hydrastis 30c thick, yellow discharge
nutmeg, cider vinegar. Drench the animal with this as The damage from the bugs that live in the soil and mud in
the bowels. (Check Epsom salts are permitted with your
needed. Pulsatilla 30c brown or yellow pus races and tracks arise when wet conditions underfoot soften the
certifying agency)
• 3:1 of raspberry leaves and feverfew in 1 litre of water § Colloidal silver. (see section on Colloidal Silver before interdigital skin, allowing the infection to invade the foot.
• Plus 112gm ground gentian root, 112gm saltpetre, 112gm
and mix with 500g molasses. I wonder if blackberry leaves making a decision) This then leads to footrot, which causes interdigit inflammation
nux vomica (helps the body remove toxins). Mix, give 1
would be just as effective?? and necrosis, which in neglected cases can lead to secondary
Tablespoon in slop 2x a day. • If nothing works, do not linger. Use antibiotics and deal
• 2 ltrs tansy tea, 500g Epsom salts, 56g ground ginger, with certification issues. infections around the bulb of the heels and the coronet. If
• Rub loins and hips 2x a day with heat salve . left untreated this inflammation can extend up the leg to the
1
/2 litre own cows milk. Two days later give linseed oil to
• Side effects of this illness can be things such as pneumonia,
• A drench with cayenne pepper will get the organs moving remedy the effects of the Epsom salts. joints.
peritonitis, enteritis, meningitis, nephritis. They have to be
again. Penetration by sharp objects, such as stones, sticks, staples can
• Cider vinegar with tansy or rosemary or thyme leaves. dealt with in their own way if they occur.
These herbs could also be used as a straight tea and also cause a foot abcess, which can be complicated by walking
Homoeopathic remedies for paralysis: • These animals will need lots of building up to get them
drenched. on races and tracks with the bugs in the race, allowing them
Plumbum Metallicum/Hypericum 30c cycling again. Cider vinegar, molasses, nasturtium and
to invade. First signs are lameness due to severe pain, with the
• Ivy leaves (Hedera helix, Araliaceae), lavender flowers, stinging nettle etc.
Hypericum 1m (helps nerve endings) 30c foot held off the ground.
thyme leaves as a douche or added to feed fresh. (This
Arnica 30c remedy has not been tried. It was found in an English A Hypothesis on calving Suggestion: Get yourself a Dogs and humans moving the cows faster than normal
book) problems (see de Bairacli Levy, 1991) detailed homoeopathic and/ cause most of these problems. A cow is designed to
Sepia 30c or herbal handbook that has mooch around and graze. Her back feet land exactly
• Thyme or rosemary leaves made into a tea and drenched. There are three theories on these.
Ledum 30c a materia medica section where her front feet have just lifted from the ground
• Check the herb section for other possible remedies. 1) The cow’s emotional condition during in it, so you can learn the and this lessens the chance of injury.
Carbo veg 30c (for vegetative states)
the whole reproduction process. This actions of these plants and
• Homoeopathics: Laminitis is becoming an increasing problem in our
You will still need to do what you normally do to a cow in this also indicates lack of fitness. remedies and lots of ideas
state, as these remedies are only an aid to that process. Sabina 30c Afterpains. Bleeding with clots dairy herds today, due to a lack of fibre and unbalanced
2) The low vitality of the cow means for treating the problems
Secale 30c Dark blood diets, especially if introduced to rich foods too suddenly.
the nerves and uterus are not toned you encounter. There is
Treatments for Pain Relief Pulsatilla 30c Persistent holding on never one single answer. An
Dietary upsets lead to a pH change (acidic) in the rumen
– another indicator of fitness. and this leads to subclinical cases. It is an inflamma-
Currently veterinarians administer ketoprofen, which has a 4 Belladonna 30c Beginning to get feverish alternative to this is to find
Pyrogenum 30c Really bad, putrid smelly 3) Sometimes through AI there is an tion of the sensitive structures of the foot. The animals
day meat withholding, and a nil milk withholding period. a good homoeopath and/or
Pyrogenum/Caullophyllum/Silica 30c combination works incomplete fertilisation process persist in lying down most of the time, and they stand
Aconite 30c (mild pain) or 1m (acute pain) may help. herbalist to help you.
well on some cows. with their front feet well out in front of them, hind feet

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drawn under her. The feet are hot and the top of the hoof is copper sulphate. These are restricted remedies and for Homoeopathic: stress and adverse weather.
swollen. It tends to affect the front feet. Later the feet become footbaths only as these substances, especially copper Drench with one of the many remedies available. Check
Lameness, severe pain Aconite 30c •
elongated and grooved. sulphate, kill earthworms. your standards booklet on what is permitted
Resolve abscess Hepar sulphur 30c
Overgrown toenails and frames of feet lead to unbalanced • Bacteroides nosodus survives in wet muddy conditions for • Drench with 250ml glycerine and 250 ml molasses.
walking for the cow, allowing one digit to be higher than no more than 3 weeks. It hates sun but can be passed Drain pus Hepar sulphur 6x
another. This then puts pressure in places there should not be on from one animal to the next. If you suspect this is the • Check for milk fever, which can also occur at the same
Works on the infection
and the end result is often lameness. An inspection of animals’ problem get the vet to test to make sure what bug you do time.
internally Silicea 200c
feet regularly and giving them a manicure, if necessary, avoids have. • Mineral compound (homoeopathic remedy available from
Severe infection Gunpowder 30c
this situation. This trait may also be inherited. • Overgrown toenails and excess around the sides of hooves HFS) could be helpful.
(Homoeopathic)
White line disease is a gradual infliction, caused at any time the are hereditary. They can be trimmed using a hoof knife, but Gonitis (inflammation of • Cider vinegar to aid digestion.
animal goes through stress or periods of poor nutrition causing must be trimmed in such a way it is comfortable for an stifle joint). Older animals • Homoeopathic lycopodium 1m
stress. It shows on the hoof as a white line and is a weak point. animal to walk. (It is like us losing 1⁄2 a sole of a shoe) tend to get it due to joint
As the hoof grows these lines eventually get to the part which • Invest in a good set of clippers and hoof knives. degeneration Arnica 30c
is in contact with the ground. The end result is a foot prone to
Homoeopathic arnica 30c and silica 30c, alternated in the Sprains Rhus tox 1m
14. Black leg (Entero–toxaemia)
injury. •
trough weekly for prevention. Periosteum of bone Ruta grav 30c
Zinc is an important element for the animal to have in their
system to allow a strong keratin structure to be present. • Never restrict their nutrition levels. Fracture Symphytum 30c
Black leg is one of the clostridial diseases of farm animals. Pulpy
Offspring from overseas stock can show a tendency to • Check liver for copper levels and blood samples for zinc Others kidney, Red water are other clostridial diseases. Clostridia are
lameness, because of their breeding. Their ancestors are used levels. found in the soil and in animals. Black leg will grow rapidly
Stops the development of
to standing in barns, with very little walking. Their diets are also excess hard tissue Calcarea fourica 30c when offered the right conditions. Bruising and wounds are
quite different and this may affect their offsprings’ consititu- often related to outbreaks of clostridial diseases. Black leg
Reduces infection and often affects the most rapidly growing animals which have
tion and physical make up. They are living in conditions quite
different in New Zealand – fed mainly on grass and having to
Treatments ulcerations Nat mur 200c been grazing high protein, low fibre moist pasture. The kidneys
walk long distances every day. Result: weaker feet. Young calves are unable to handle the clostridial toxins and death often
With inflammation between digits, treat a.s.a.p. to stop the pus
from burrowing under the horn. To metabolise calcium Cal phos 30c follows quickly.
Healthy hoof
Photos: Left: Right: Hoof showing nutrition
and stress lines. Wash with soapy water or Growing rapidly Phos ac 30c • If it is an ongoing problem, apply to get permission to
antiseptic or teatree oil or vaccinate for it.
• Nosodes for footrot are available if it is a constant
cider vinegar. Cut all loose • Some vaccines are GE and combination vaccines (5 in 1
problem. Talk to your homoeopath
decaying flesh. Apply poultice etc). Check with your vet before vaccinating what you are
with linseed meal and use a • Couch grass and dandelion are high in silica which using and ensure the vaccine has not been genetically
shoof to hold poultice. When strengthens the feet engineered. Ask for a certificate stating this.
pus has gone, protect wound • Herbs and poultices could come in handy – see the herb • Watch the grass you are putting the animals on. If neces-
with Stockholm tar. (Check section. sary, keep giving them some fibre, such as hay.
with your certifying agency.)
• Keep animals in a healthy and fit condition.
Clean between the toes with
cider vinegar, then put active • Homoeopathic remedies will help but will not cure:
manuka honey up between
the toes, along with fresh
13. Ketosis (acetonemia or acidosis) Crotalus horridus 30c, Bothrops/Lanciolatus 30c, Lachesis
30c
Prevention plantain leaves and hold it in place with insulation tape. This can be confused with grass staggers or milk fever. It occurs
Change it daily for 3 days (more if needed) as well as treat 6–10 weeks post calving. It affects high producing cows when
A few pointers: with homoeopathic Pyrogenum 30c. The infection usually stops there are larger demands of their body condition. It affects high
• Let the cows wander to the shed where possible. getting worse straight away, but swelling can take up to 10
days to go down.
producing cows at a time when even a high dietary intake of
energy is insufficient for the animal’s needs. The animal starts
15. Salt Poisoning
• Keep your races, gateways and trough surrounds in good
order. Use a shoof to hold poultices, keep the digit clean, and to take breaking down its own fatty acids and producing ketone Salt can be poisonous in large doses.
the pressure off the damaged digit. by–products. Body fat deposits are depleted and there is a Avoid uncontrolled access to agricultural salt. Some cows
• Feed them some fibre, such as hay or straw when the grass rapid loss of body condition.
Mix Stockholm tar and copper sulphate to pack a wound (check develop a real liking for it and poison themselves.
is growing quickly.
these remedies with your certifying agency first) The causes can include high protein low digestibility feeds,
• Ensure your pasture sward has a variety of grasses and Give the animal warm water and linseed tea – as much as
Comfrey poultices, plantain poultices, warm linseed meal poul- poor feed quantities, stress and/or adverse weather. Ketosis is possible.
herbs in it to ensure the animal has fibre in their diet. often a secondary disease associated with metabolic diseases.
tices, epsom salt poultices work well on severe cases.
• At the first sign of feet trouble investigate and deal with it. Metabolic imbalances usually lead to a decline in appetite Give the heart a stimulus – strong coffee, brandy.
Warm Epsom salts in a foot bath
Check for stones lodged in the claws. Arnica 2x a day for 2 which increases the risk of suffering from Ketosis. Homoeopathics are available.
days often works plus a footbath for the herd. If there is no recovery, and the animal is in pain and is
This means it is due to one of the following: the quality of
suffering, you will need to call your vet and you may need to
• Footbaths can be made with zinc sulphate, mono zinc or nutrition in late pregnancy; shortage of feed; poor quality feed;
treat the animal with antibiotics.

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16. Pink Eye (conjunctivitis) of the soft tissues around the tongue and mouth. If serious
enough it can infect lymph glands. Most infections start with
Homoeopathics
Infection: Hepa sulph 6c – 1m (low potencies
Oozing
Bleeding
Graphites 30c
Silica 30c
cuts or scratches in the mouth or on the tongue.
promote suppuration, high promote Abscesses Phytolacca 30c
Prevent access to material that might cause mouth lacerations resolution or healing)
(boxthorn, barberry) and avoid damaging animal mouths while
What is it? Silica 6c – 1m ( pushes infections out. Warts Homoeopathic thuja 30c
drenching. Isolate any infected animals and treat any clinical
Low potencies bring abscesses to a
cases. Ulcers Homoeopathic sulphur 30c
Pink eye is an eye infection (Moraxella bovis). Predisposing head heals scar tissue.)
factors include dust, bright sun, flies, and environmental irrita- The tongue becomes hard and swollen, making it hard to eat.
Arnica
tions (thistles, ragwort, ryegrass seeds). Mycoplasmas may also The animal dribbles, like after you have had an injection for Chaffing Vaseline
dental treatment. Hepa Sulphur and Silica are both important remedies in healing,
be involved. It occurs in summer and autumn. It can be heredi- Udder cream
especially in infections. Ask your homeopath what to use and when.
tary and it is contagious. Slow parts to heal use zinc oxide in an
Treatments
The four stages are ointment
For the whole herd, increase your seaweed intake for iodine.
• Tears streaming
• Blinking frequently
For individuals:
• 1 give an internal cleansing using 250g Epsom salts as a
st
19. Shock Sore Teats
Mix hypericum and marigold (50/50) with honey and use for
• The eye showing signs of infection and drench. Mental Aconite 30c all sore and cut teats.
• Opaque cornea indicating possible permanent 2 drench with 500g powdered seaweed (or liquid
nd
Rescue remedy 30c Calendula cream or oil.
damage. seaweed) in molasses and garlic.
Physical Arnica 30c
3rd massage the hardened area with 1 part vinegar and 3

Treatments
parts seaweed and 1 dessertspoon paprika.
Note: check with your certifying agency if Epsom salts is
22. Ringworm
permitted. 20. Drying off Homoeopathic bacicillum 30c
Eye washes: • Colloidal Silver (15ml) (see earlier section on Colloidal
Drying off should occur at least four weeks before the cow is
Boracic acid. Silver)
due to calve again. The udder goes through a period of involu-

23. Catarrh
2.5% solution of zinc sulphate in water. (28g zinc sulphate • Drench 250ml cider vinegar with 4 tablespoon seaweed tion, cleansing and preparing for calving again.
dissolved in 1 litre water) granules a few times a day.
Below are some treatments. Feed management should ensure
Eyebright tincture in water. energy and water intake is maintained but protein is reduced.
Homoeopathics: Homoeopathic:
So replace some of the diet with hay and do not feed high
Homoeopathics: Left swollen glands Mercurius Iodatus Ruber 30c quality crops, such as brassicas and young grass while drying Yellow discharge Mercury/Pulsatilla 30c
Prevention Pink eye nosode Right swollen glands Mercurius Iodatus Flavus 30c off. Itchy Sulphur 30c
First signs Aconite 30c General help Kali Hydr 200c • Peppermint, ginger and asparagus help slow milk flow. Yellow stringy Kali birch 30c
Early stages Kali hydr 30c, Euphrasia 30c Belladonna 30c • A dose of Epsom salts 28g every 2 days. (Check you are Thick discharges Hydrastatis 30c
Cause is a blow Arnica 30c allowed to use this under these circumstances)
Inflammed eye • Homoeopathic Lac Canium 30c in trough after final
Light sensitive Belladonna 30c milking.
Corneal opacity
(Beginning to do this) Acidum nitricum 200c
18. Wounds • Check for any individual mastitis cases 1 and 2 weeks post 24. Cow pox
drying off and treat accordingly.
• Clean using cold water, salt and a disinfectant healing herb It is infectious via the milker handling teats. Usually it is oval
Absolute corneal
Opacity Silica 200c (e.g. teatree oil) shaped. Allow the animals to develop an immunity if you have
• Rub some of the herb leaves and cider vinegar into the an outbreak.
wound (see Herbal section)
21. Udder Problems • Dose with garlic and cider vinegar

17. Woody Tongue

• For inflammation, rub cider vinegar and plantain • Elder and watercress is good fodder.
• Old wounds use aloe vera juice Cracks • Bathe with a brew of elder and dock leaves (2 handfuls
of each), cut finely and steeped in 1 litre of water. This will
• Dose internally with garlic to strengthen healing process Clean teats
also cure large open ulcers.
• Check the herb section Apply ointments or udder grease to keep moist (see herb
• Alternative to above brew is flaked garlic root.
What is it? • Infected: honey and plantain poultice along with article)
• Maybe teatree oil could be used.
Homoeopathic pyrogenum. 30c
Woody tongue can be caused by either a bacterial infection Homoeopathic: • Responds well to active manuka honey.
(Actinobacillosis), or by a fungal infection (actinomycosis), • Active manuka honey is remarkably good on many
Peeling skin Bryonia 30c • Rub pure manuka honey on.
infections

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Organic Pastoral RESOURCE GUIDE Chapter 2 ANIMAL HEALTH

Homoeopathics worth the risk. Wynn, Susan G. 1996. Anthlemintic therapy in holistic veterinary practice. Infertility
Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Assn
Prevention nosode Check the vaccine that is being used, that it is lepto only (there du Faur Ralph 1981 Dairy Herd Husbandry Dairy Exporter ISBN
Feb–Apr p15–19.
0–908596–11–1.
are combination ones) and that it is GE free. Get a certificate
Dry skin lesions Antimonium Crudum 30c Henderson Gita Biodynamic Perspectives – Farming and
stating this. Remember after the shot it is too late! Cider Vinegar
Pox like eruptions Cuprum Aceticum 30c Gardening,. Published by the NZ Farming and Gardening Assn, P O
Biodynamic newsletter, Autumn 1990. Box 39 045, Wellington. pp 86–91 A Critical. Look at Reproduction
There are nosodes available but are not recognised by vets.
Crater like, discharge Kali Bich 30c Bragg Paul and Patricia Apple Cider Vinegar ISBN 0 87790 0418 Technology by Jorg Spranger. ISBN 1–86941–460–8.
Check with your certifying agency for permission first. Thacker Emily 1994 The Vinegar Book. Pub Tresco, New York. MacLeod G. MRCVS,DVSM,AF Hom 1992 The Treatment of
Vesticular Ranunculus Bulbosus 30c Cattle by Homoeopathy by Jain Pub, India. Available from NZ
If the answer is yes, get the straight leptospirosis Resources Homoepathic Assn pp 76–80.
vaccine, not the combination one.
Coral Tree Organic Products Ltd, 44 Waihou Rd, P O Box 660, Levin,
Ph: 06 368 0833, Fax: 06 368 7888, Email kim@coraltree.co.nz
Mastitis

25. Pneumonia Web: www.organically–nz.co.nz.

Allen and Molan. Activity of honey in agriculture – mastitis
bacteria.

Homoeopathics:
27. General tonic for rundown cows Facial Eczema
Farm Fact Sheets 1–8 from Dexcel.
Livestock Improvement, Managing Mastitis – A Practical Guide
for NZ Dairy Farmers.
Waterman, G.A. 1980 The Practical Stock Doctor. Detroit. F.B.Dickerson Livestock Improvement SAMM Plan 1992.
Not moving Bryonia 30c • Powdered oak bark, a little powdered ginger steeped in 1
Cp. p 808. NZ Journal of Agricultural Research 1997 Vol 40 p 537–540.
litre hot water, then drenched.
1st remedy Aconite30c Herbal Medicine Trace Element Deficiencies
• Cider vinegar, seaweed, molasses, seawater
Aid recovery Fisher Carole & Painter Gillian. Materia Medica of Western Herbs de Bairacli Levy Juliette 1988 The Complete Herbal Handbook for
and prevent from • Chilli pepper of the Southern Hemisphere ISBN 0 473 03982 6. Farm and Stable Pub Faber ISBN 0–571–13205–7 pp170 – 173
Grieve Mrs M. A Modern Herbal ISBN 0 140464409. has a comprehensive list of the herb mineral properties..
recurring Sulphur 30c • Check the herb section.
Hoffmann David. The Herb User’s Guide ISBN 0 7225122880. Bettacrop Organics, Hamilton, Ph: 07 824 4881, have a commercial
Herbs may help. There must be others!!! drench with garlic, cider vinegar, amino acids, mineral oils and kelp.
Kloss Jethro. Back to Eden ISBN 0 912800127.
Pfeiffer Ehrenfried E. Weeds and what they tell by, Published by
Lawrence Hill. Comfrey. Pub Doubleday Research Institute, England (try Biodynamic Association USA. ISBN 0 938250–04–3.
Touchwood Books).
Pritchard EA for the NZ Weed and Pest Control Society. A Guide to General Resources for Animal Health
26. Leptospirosis 28. General information the Identification of NZ Common Weeds ISBN 0 959767614 .
Riley Murdoch. Maori Healing and Herbal ISBN 0 854670955.
Coleby Pat. 2002 Healthy Cattle Naturally ISBN 0 643 06765 5
Available through Touchwood Books: touchwoodbooks.co.nz
There are three types of lepto that can infect cows. All of them Stuart Malcom. The Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Herbalism ISBN Coleby, P. 2000. Healthy Sheep Naturally. Landlinks Press,
A very good drench gun, which administers 200ml at a time for
0 856130672. Collingwood, Vic. 2nd Ed.
can infect humans resulting in a debilitating illness, which may drenching high volumes is available. See your veterinarian.
Veterinary Science at Massey University The Farmer’s Veterinary de Bairacli Levy Juliette. The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm
last for months. In some people it periodically recurs. New Guide Revised and updated by a panel of Veterinary Experts.
Manuka honey is remarkably good on many infections. and Stable Pub 1991 by Faber. ISBN 0–571–13205–7.
Zealand is rather unique among dairy farming countries in that Available through NZ Dairy Exporter, Box 299, Wellington. Day Christopher MRCVS, VetFFHom. The Homoeopathic Treatment
there is a high risk of lepto infections in unvaccinated animals of Beef and Dairy cattle ISBN 0–906584–37–X.
and the people that work with them.
Homoeopathy
Davies P 1988 Organic Farming in New Zealand, The Farmer

The organism is highly infectious. Although it is killed by
sunlight and desiccation, it can travel quite some distance in
water, certainly from one farm to the next.
Hardjo is the ‘normal’ cow lepto. Most non–vaccinated herds
carry it and usually effects on cows are minor, although humans
are at risk. If a vaccination programme is halted, after a year or
two hardjo often returns and abortions can result.
Pomona is the ‘normal’ pig lepto and effects on pigs are minor.
However, if it spreads to unvaccinated cows, a serious abortion
storm is likely. It also produces red–water in calves resulting in a
lot of sick animals and some deaths. I try to discourage pigs on
dairy farms. If you must have one, it should be vaccinated.
Copenhageni is spread by rats. It is uncommon on dairy farms.
It’s the one lepto that can affect dogs (death rate is close to
100% in unvaccinated dogs) and it can kill people as well.
Effects on cows are minor.
The standard lepto vaccine protects against hardjo and pomona.
If there is copenhageni in your district, it would be advisable to
use the vaccine that includes this.
With the ACC ruling, you will probably need to vaccinate, espe-
cially if you have others in your shed from time to time. It is not
References
Calf management and worms
Websites:
www.attra.org
www.lifestyleblock.co.nz ( practical information on calf rearing)
Books and papers:
Barrell,G.K., (Ed) 1997. Sustainable control of internal parasites in rumi-
nants. Animal Industries Workshop. Lincoln University, Canterbury.
June. pp 280.
Coleby Pat. 2002. Healthy Cattle Naturally ISBN 0 643 06765 5.
Available from Touchwood Books, Box 610 Hastings. Ph (06) 8742872
www.touchwoodbooks.co.nz.
de Bairacli Levy Juliette. The Complete Herbal Handbook for
Farm and Stable Pub 1988 Faber ISBN 0–571–13205–7.
McBride, Judy. 1998. An ounce of prevention equals pounds of milk. Ag
Research January p10–11.
MacLeod G. The Treatment of Cattle by Homoeopathy Available
from NZ Homoeopathic Assn.
Verkade Tineke Homoeopathic Handbook for Dairy Farming
Available from HFS P O Box 9025 Hamilton. Ph: 07 858 4233.
Day Christopher MRCVS, VetFFHom. The Homoeopathic Treatment
of Cattle ISBN 0–906584–37–X.
MacLeod G. The Treatment of Cattle by Homoeopathy Available
from the New Zealand Homoeopathic Association P O Box 67 095, Mt
Eden, Auckland, Ph: 09 630 5458.
Verkade Tineke. Homoeopathic Handbook for Dairy Farming,
ISBN 0–473–08376–0 available from the author at HFS, P O Box
9025, Hamilton.
www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4152521,00.html – a
scientific paper on homoeopathy.
Resources
NZ Council of Homoeopaths, P O Box 51–195, Tawa, Web:
www.homoeopathy.co.nz Email: nzch@homoeopathy.co.nz.
HFS (Homoeopathic Farm Support) offers a range of product & advice, P O Box
9025, Hamilton, Ph: 07 858 4233, Fax: 07 858 4234,
Email: hfs@xtra.co.nz Web: www.farmsupport.co.nz.
Animal Health Solutions offers a range of homoeopathically based
products for most commercial stock. Contact: Heather Stewart,
Welcome Bay, Tauranga, Freeph: 0800 926 462,
Web: www.animal.co.nz.
Spray bottles are available through Payless Plastics or HFS. Ask your
homoeopath how to mix your remedies into the spray bottles. Keep the same
spray bottle for the same remedies.
and His Environment. Pub by Tokoroa Printers Available from
Touchwood Books.
du Faur Ralph. Dairy Herd Husbandry, ISBN 0–9–8596–11–1.
Harrison Adele and Gilbertson Helen. Remedies for Farm Animals
Pub by NZ Biodynamic Assn P O Box 39 045 Wellington Mail Centre.
PH (04) 589 5366.
Henderson Gita. Biodynamic Perspectives – Farming and
Gardening, Pub by NZ Biodynamic Assn P O Box 39 045 Wellington
Mail Centre.
Johnston JG. 1941 NZ Veterinary Handbook Pub NZ Dairy Exporter.
Macdonald’s Press Macdonald’s Encyclopaedia of Medical Plants.
Verkade Tineke Homoeopathic Handbook for Dairy Farming
Available from HFS, P O Box 9025, Hamilton. Ph: 07 858 4233.
MacLeod G. The Treatment of Cattle by Homoeopathy Pub 1992
B Jain, India Book Code B–2361 Available from NZ Homoepathic Assn.
Massey University Vetereninary Science 1992 The Farmers Veterinary
Guide, pub Dairy Exporter Books. Available from Dairy Exporter NZ.
Ruddock Dr The Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Veterinary
Medicine. Available from NZ Homoeopathic Assn.
Massey University Organic Unit, see Appendix 2
NZ Agrisearch Units at Ruakura & Lincoln Web:www.agrisearch.co.nz
www.dexcel.co.nz www.farmwise.co.nz
www.caprine.co.nz www.lifestyleblock.co.nz
www.2farm.co.nz www.vetgate.co.nz
www.attra.org

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