title: Use of homeopathy in organic dairy farming in Spain.
abstract: Organic farming principles promote the use of unconventional therapies as an alternative to chemical substances (which are limited by organic regulations), with homeopathy being the most extensive. Traditionally, Spain has had little faith in homeopathy but its use in organic farming is growing. Fifty-six Spanish organic dairy farmers were interviewed to obtain what we believe to be the first data on the use of homeopathy in organic dairy cattle in Spain. Only 32% of farms use some sort of alternative therapy (16.1% homeopathy, 10.7% phytotherapy and 5.3% using both therapies) and interestingly, a clear geographical pattern showing a higher use towards the East (similar to that in the human population) was observed. The main motivation to use homeopathy was the need to reduce chemical substances promoted by organic regulations, and the treatment of clinical mastitis being the principle reason. The number of total treatments was lower in farms using homeopathy compared with those applying allopathic therapies (0.13 and 0.54 treatments/cow/year respectively) and although the bulk SCC was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in these farms (161,826 and 111,218 cel/ml, respectively) it did not have any negative economical penalty for the farmer and milk quality was not affected complying with the required standards; on the contrary homeopathic therapies seems to be an alternative for reducing antibiotic treatments, allowing farmers to meet the organic farming principles.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orjales
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain; Centro Tecnológico Agroalimentario de Lugo (CETAL), 27003 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rey-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Formación Agrarias (CIFA), Héroes 2 de mayo 27, 39600 Muriedas, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain. Electronic address: marta.miranda@usc.es.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003611:Dairy Products; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013030:Spain
keywords: Dairy cattle; Homeopathy; Organic farming; Somatic cell count