The application of a homeopathic preparation
to prevent diarrhoea in newborn calves
P. Kroupová, M. Šoch and B. Čermák
Abstract - The aim of this work was to evaluate a possibility of using a polycomposite homeopathic preparation to prevent diarrhoea in calves. The effects were
monitored in 343 newborn Holstein calves in total in
two different experiments. In the first part of the
experiment (experiment 1; administration of a homeopathic preparation on the first three days after birth)
a marked tendency of reduced frequency of diarrhoea
in calves was observed – one-sided p-value, assessed
by the Χ–squared test, approached the level of statistical significance (0.0821). In the second part of the
experiment (experiment 2; administration of a homeopathic preparation on the first, third and fifth day
after birth), a tendency to reduced number of diarrhoea cases was also recorded, but with no statistically significant difference (0.2239). A shorter total
time of diarrhoea occurrence was found in both experimental groups compared to control groups for all
observations.1
INTRODUCTION
Newborn calves are characterised by marked cardiorespiratory, metabolic and endocrine changes. The
speed of the adaptation of the various traits differs
widely (BLUM et al., 2000). Most outbreaks are multifactorial and are an interaction between the environment, management, feeding and the microorganisms (ANDREWS, 2004). BENDALI et al.
(1999) considered calving conditions, month of
birth, herd management conditions such as hygiene,
vitamin or salt supplements and cow vaccination as
risk factors influencing the occurrence of diarrhoea
in calves. According to KROUPOVÁ et al. (2005) diarrhoea in calves occur most frequently within the first
two weeks after birth, with the highest incidence
level between days five and eight. Subsequently, the
frequency decreases until day nineteen after birth.
In all the Italian studies mentioned above, homeopathy was demonstrated to cure the majority of
frequent diseases of the animals, and influence production and reproductive parameters. Furthermore,
homeopathy was shown to be an effective curative
method in organic livestock farming, leading to reduced reduced treatment costs (Martini et al.,
2001).
P. Kroupová is with the University of South Bohemia, Department of
Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Agriculture,
Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice (kroupova.pe@seznam.cz)
M. Šoch is with the University of South Bohemia, Department of
Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Agriculture
Čermák, B. is with the University of South Bohemia, Department
of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture
1
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In the experiment mainly calves of the Holstein cattle were used, which was the predominant breed on
the farm. Calves were allocated in one of the two
groups (treatment or control) immediately after
birth and irrespective of their sex. When they became diseased, calves in the control group were
given a treatment that was routinely applied in the
herd. Calves in the treatment group received an
additional polycomposite homeopathic preparation
(Arsenicum album 5 CH, Calcarea carbonica 7 CH,
Colchicum autumnale 5 CH, Chelidonium majus 3
CH, China 3 CH, Ipeca 3 CH, Mercurius corrosivus 5
CH, Natrum sulfuricum 5 CH, Phosphoricum acidum
5 CH, Podophyllum peltatum 5 CH, Ricinus communis 5 CH, Veratrum album 5 CH, aa q. s. ad 100
ml).
Doses of 5 ml were administered orally on the
first three days after birth (experiment 1) and for
day 1, 3 and 5 after birth (experiment 2). The day of
birth was regarded as day zero. Calves were treated
by a conventional method if they became diseased.
Observations were made of 1-21 days old calves.
Data was entered into spreadsheet tables and analysed, using χ-squared test at the 95% reliability
level. Differences between the groups were described in percentages. In this way, a total of 151
calves (experiment 1; 77 calves in the treatment
group and 74 in the control group) and 192 calves
(experiment 2; 95 calves in the treatment group and
97 in the control group) were compared.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In experiment 1, the morbidity in the control group
was 28 of 74 calves (38%), and 20 of 77 calves in
the treatment group (26%). The difference between
the two groups regarding morbidity was 12%, which
was close to being statistically significant (one-sided
p-value = 0.0821). In experiment 2, the morbidity in
the control group was 43 of 97 calves (44%), and in
the treatment group 36 of 95 calves (38%). The
difference was not statistically significant (one-sided
p-value = 0.2239). The highest frequency of diarrhoea during the whole period was during the two
first weeks after birth, peaking between day five and
eight. The latest diarrhoea case was observed on
day nineteen after birth. It corresponds with the
results of KROUPOVÁ et al. (2005). In both experiments, a marked tendency to a reduced number of
diarrhoea cases was observed in the treatment
groups. Furthermore, the time with diarrhoea
seemed shorter in the treatment group compared to
the control groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Administration of a homeopathic preparation with
claimed effects to prevent diarrhoea in calves
showed a tendency (not statistically significant) to
reduced frequency in newborn calves, which was
marked in experiment 1, and very slight in experiment 2.
Blum, W.J. and Hammon, H. (2000). Colostrum effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and on nutritional,
endocrine and metabolic parameters in neonatal
calves. Livestock Production Science 66(2): 151159.
REFERENCES
Kroupová, P., Šoch, M. and Lukešová, D. (2005).
Assessing Effects of Preventive Administration of a
Homeopathic Preparation on the Frequency of Calf
Diarrhoeas. (Ed.: Institute of Tropics and Subtropics,
CUA Prague, The Czech Republic). Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica 38(3–4): 39-43.
Andrews, A.H. (2004). Calf enteritidis – Diarrhoea in
the pre-weaned calf – Strategic investigation of outbreaks. Cattle practice 12:109-114, part 2.
Bendali, F., Sanaa, M., Bichet, H. and Schelcher, F.
(1999): Risk factors with diarrhoea in newborn
calves. Veterinary Research, 30(5): 509-522.
Martini, A., Tambini, P., Miccinesi, M. and Bozzi, R.
(2001). Homeopathic medicine: research data from
Italy. Reading, The University of Reading, p. 33-41.
APPENDIXES
Graph 1 (Experiment 1): The frequency of calf diarrhoea
during the first 21 days after birth
27
Control group
24 morbidity
% of
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
Treatment group
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
days
Graph 2 (Experiment 2): The frequency of calf diarrhoea
during the first 21 days after birth
%
30
27
of24morbidity
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
1
2
3
Control group
Treatment group
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
days