Dairy Summary
Extract from Alternative Approaches
to Livestock Health Survey Report
January 2022

© Helen Browning’s Organics

Overview of the Use of CAM
among Dairy Farmers
From May 2020 till January 2021 Whole Health Agriculture(WHAg) surveyed 221 livestock farmers who use at least
one Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Method(CAM) in their livestock health management. The survey
was developed in collaboration with, and piloted by, agroup of commercial farmers, 4 dairy, 1 sheep, 1 mixed(beef and poultry) farmer.

The responses of 70 commercial dairy farmers whocompleted the survey are reported in this overview. The
minimum unit size per respondent is 10 cows (milkers)
and the maximum is 900. (Median number of milking
cows per farmer = 150.)

I have not lost any cow tomastitis since I have started
using homeopathy© Jackie Pearce-Dickens© Copyright Whole Health Agriculture 2022

Dairy Summary

Results of Using CAMs
Health and antibiotic usage
I was able to take a diﬀerent
perspective on health and a deeper
understanding of the importance ofa healthy environment90%

O F D AIRY F ARME RS E XP E RIE NCE D

IMPROVED HERD HEALTH& WELLBEING

69%

OF D A IR Y F A R M ERS STATE DZERO, LOW
OR REDUCEDANTIBIOTIC USAGE67%

OF DAIRY FARMERS EXPERIENCED

LOWER DISEASE FREQUENCY/REDUCED SEVERITY OF DISEASE

It has heightened my conﬁdence totake responsibility for the health andwellbeing of my stock54%
OF DAIRY FARMERS NOTELESS FREQUENT/SEVERE MASTITIS+ 52% LOWER
CELL COUNTS© Copyright Whole Health Agriculture 2022

Dairy Summary

Results of Using CAMs
Productivity, Costs & Proﬁtability

69%

OF DAIRY FARMERS STATEDFEWER CASES OFMILK WITHDRAWAL52%

OF DAIRY FARMERS REPORTEDINCREASED FINANCIAL
PROFITABILITY OF
THE FARM

71%

OF D A IR Y F A R M ERS NOTE D

LOWER VET AND
MEDICINE COSTS© Copyright Whole Health Agriculture 2022

I rarely need to use tubes any more

Dairy Summary

Results on the Use of CAMs:
Dairy Farmers
This question was based on markers that farmers are requested to report, and/or consider
to be important.
Total

Dairy

Improved general health and wellbeing of livestock

84%

90%

Lower vet and medicine costs

66%

71%

Zero, low or reduced antibiotic usage65%

69%

Fewer incidences of milk withdrawal

26%

69%

Lower disease frequency and/or reduced severity of disease

65%

67%

Reduced frequency or severity of mastitis

30%

54%

Lower cell counts

20%

52%

Increased financial profitability of farm

33%

52%

Higher fertility rate

22%

40%

Reduced frequency or severity of lameness

36%

40%

Lower cull rate/re-stocking rate

26%

36%

Zero, low or reduced wormer usage

40%

31%

Higher live birth rate

24%

22%

The calves come back stronger following homeopathic
treatment. Having seen the results, the staff are now willingto bring protocols for treating mastitis into the parlour© Copyright Whole Health Agriculture 2022

Dairy Summary

Summary of the Use of CAMs
among Dairy Farmers
As an industry, dairy farmers are under unique pressure
in relation to antibiotic usage. Many milk suppliers(themselves under pressure from their buyers) are setting
ambitiously low usage targets, and some organic milkbuyers are making Produced Without Antibiotics (PWAB)
a requirement of membership.
‘Antibiotic-free’ is becoming a buzz word among
conscious consumers where the dairy industry is also
being squeezed by the rise of ‘healthier’ plant-basedalternatives.
For the dairy farmer wanting to make changes, withoutcompromising welfare, there is insufficient information,
support or training offering effective alternative healthsolutions. There is clearly a gap between demand andwhat is available to health-conscious farmers.

I had a meeting with myaccountant today and hesaid to me wide eyed: “Yourveterinary expenses arevery impressive, down by
a whopping 64% on theprevious year”

Based on global health needs, dairy industry trends, andthe result of this survey, WHAg strongly recommends
that the potential for CAM-led approaches to dairy cow
and calf health are further investigated and documented.
Furthermore, that dairy farmers seeking alternatives are
better supported, particularly by industry bodies.

Our milk buyer has asked the whole supplier group to work
towards zero use of critical antibiotics and reduced useof them generally. Apparently this is due to the increased
questioning coming from their buyers© Copyright Whole Health Agriculture 2022

Dairy Summary

Contact details
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secretary@wholehealthag.org

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