PHOTO:KATRIEN VAN’T HOOFT
trained a total 30.000 farmers and 2000 veterinarians on the efficient use of herbs for cattle health, also known as ethno- veterinary practices. Since 2017 the method is adopted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and a number of practical videos for farmers about the use of herbs for controlling common cattle diseases were produced in local languages. Through an on-line reporting system the empirical data of more than 556,000 cases of 24 bovine diseases cured with herbal medicine were recorded. An overall average cure rate of 82% was registered, as well as an 87% reduction of antibiotic use within two years after the training. This leads to an average of 72% cost reduction for seven main cattle diseases compared to conventional treatment. The programme is expected to reach around 70 million farmers in the coming years. Between 2018-2020 NLF in Ethiopia (headed by Ethiopian Society of Animal Production ESAP), implemented an action research based on the NLF approach. This project combined activities at laboratory level and field level in two zero-grazing smallholder dairy communities. Experts from NLF India headed a training course on the use of medicinal plants (mainly kitchen herbs), while organisations collaborating with NLF Netherlands guided training on laboratory skills and calf management.
Figure 1 - NFL 5-layered approach to improve cattle health and income. Extra income
Milk quality control Use of medicinal plants Strategic use of local breeds
Improved animal & farm management
In two years, the approach has shown significant improvement in milk quality (8% antibiotic residue reduction) and quantity (over 50% increase), farm income (33% increase), while calf mortality was reduced by 60%. Average costs for cattle health were reduced by 20%. The outcomes of this pilot will have a bearing in supporting the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture in improving milk quality and to scale up the strategy into various dairy programmes. The initial focus of NLF in Uganda (headed by the Lake Mburo Farmers Cooperative Society) was on the natural control of ticks and tick-borne diseases amongst smallholder ranging cattle. A herbal recipe based on local plants was developed by experts from NLF India and tried out in 2017- 2018. In recent years the society has focused on diversifying farm activities with bee-keeping, as well as value addition and local marketing of dairy products. Another programme within Uganda focuses on strengthening the local Ankole Longhorn cattle breed.
Growing an aloe vera plant for herbal mastitis treatment in the household garden is now commonplace amongst smallholder dairy producers in India.
58 ▶ ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION | DECEMBER 2021
Results in large scale dairy system Since the start of NLF in the Netherlands in 2015, around 400 farmers and 50 veterinarians have joined the activities within their large-scale dairy system. The antibiotic use for mastitis in the dairy sector used to be high, with dry cow treatment a common practice. Since 2014 a one-to-one relationship between farmers and veterinarians on the use of antibiotics was enforced by the government, with mandatory (national) registration of antibiotic use. As a result, the use of antibiotics in the total livestock production systems was reduced to around 70% compared to 2009, though the decrease is now stagnating. In the Dutch dairy sector increased use by farmers of ready- made natural products was one of the major changes for mastitis prevention and cure. Moreover, farmers started to introduce herbs into monoculture ray-grass grasslands, as well as into cattle feed. This posed a challenge due to lack of
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