Bluetongue is spreading rapidly across the Netherlands, and 645 companies have now been infected. In the quest of sheep farmers to make the suffering of their animals bearable, a call on LinkedIn led to interesting conversations about the use of herbs and natural remedies.
‘There is no medicine for bluetongue. We can only try to combat the symptoms with painkillers and anti-inflammatories,” says Utrecht sheep farmer Sanne Merks. ‘You give small amounts of bread in the mouth, pick willow branches, lime leaves, nettle and grass. Anything to keep them eating or getting them to eat. I inject a little applesauce into the mouth of sheep that can no longer do this on their own so that they still have a chance.’
One of the participants in the discussions about natural remedies was Marieke de Louw from De Louw Veterinair Advice. She is a veterinarian, but also uses phytotherapy, or herbal medicine, among other things. ‘Health is a total picture. I can heal animals, but keeping them healthy gives me much more satisfaction. I believe in the possibilities that nature offers us to treat complaints and support health.’
De Louw will speak about herbal medicine on October 4 at an information exchange evening about bluetongue, at the Beekhoeve farm in Kamerik. “We don’t have Columbus’ egg,” says De Louw. ‘But by discussing as many opportunities as possible and seizing them together, we can hopefully reduce the suffering in the near future.’
Text continues below the LinkedIN post.
Ellie Hofman is a sheep farmer, but also a veterinary naturopathic therapist at Dierennatuurlijk. She bundled her knowledge and experience with bluetongue and strengthening resistance in a document that is regularly updated (available on request via info@dierennatuurlijk.nl). ‘The difficult thing with bluetongue is that the ailments are very diverse and so is what you use,’ she says.
The use of natural products still has an image of goat’s wool socks, although garlic and oregano, for example, are also increasingly used in regular livestock farming. ‘Nature is an important source of substances with a medicinal effect. However, we have lost that knowledge a bit,” says Hofman.
To illustrate this, the sheep farmer quotes willow. It is rich in fiber, important vitamins, including B1, C and pro-vitamin A, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. And willow also contains salicin, which is converted into salicylic acid in the body. This has a fever-reducing and pain-relieving effect. Or rosehip. Hofman calls that a vitamin C bomb.
Text continues below video.
The challenge with bluetongue is that the animals continue to eat and drink, Hofman knows. ‘Offer hay, grass, willow branches and a little bit of pellets. If they don’t eat themselves, grind a slop with bananas, for example. It contains less sugar than applesauce, which means the rumen ferments less quickly. Bananas also contain more vitamins and minerals.’
In addition, there are natural remedies and organic supplements that strengthen resistance. These can be used in addition to veterinary remedies.
There will be one on Wednesday, October 4 at 8 p.m webinar about bluetongue place where sheep and cattle farmers can talk to each other. It is organized by sheepdokter.nl.
2023-10-04 13:59:00
#Making #suffering #bluetongue #bearable #natural #means
