Farm Guidebooks on Natural Remedies for Livestock Health
The need for natural remedies for livestock stems from a combination of environmental, economic, and health-related factors, including antibiotic resistance, consumer demand for sustainable practices, environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, regulatory and residue concerns, and enhancing resilience against disease.
Natural Livestock Farming (NLF) is the organisation continuously engaged in knowledge exchange programmes for reduced use of antibiotics and other chemicals in farming. In 2011, NLF developed and disseminated a number of guide booklets for farmers in the Netherlands which explain in accessible terms the use of natural remedies for livestock
The booklets provide information on which natural products have proven to be effective for livestock and which products might be effective, based on currently available knowledge. The booklets also provide sources for validated products on the market. Aside from natural products, the guidebooks also offer accessible guidance on suitable management measures for multiple health issues.
Due to the lack of awareness and training of farmers and veterinarians on the topic of natural remedies, these guide booklets are valuable assets that provide needed information on what is available and safe to use. The guidebooks are also intended to stimulate collaboration between farmers and veterinarians through awareness and practice of natural remedies.
This agri-innovation may provide useful knowledge towards the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) (2021-2025) which includes measures to promote prudent antibiotic use in agriculture.
The English guidebook titled: ‘Natural Dairy Health: A guide to keeping your herd healthy with herbs and other natural products’ is available to download on the NLF website. Other guidebooks are available in Dutch through the BioKennis project website and the Natural Remedies for Animals Wikipage.
Find out more about this innovation by contacting Claire at claire@erinn.eu.
