Finding Lulu, the farm Kune Kune, blissed out under the plum tree with ripe fruit bouncing off her fat & round (Maori translation)1 body literally right into her mouth!, got me lamenting the swine who are ‘farmed,’ often in pens without access to grass, direct sunlight, or plums… and finally trucked to the meat works.
A 2021 study2 showed transporting pigs by road leads to increased harmful intestinal bacteria counts, and serum cortisol concentrations, while decreasing serum superoxide dismutase concentrations. The researchers supplemented the diets of ninety growing pigs in one of two randomized groups with a proprietary feed blend, (Convermax), which was found (after 35 days) to alleviate the stress response, improve apparent nitrogen digestibility, and increase gain to feed ratio.
Convermax by Cargill Inc. (Rotterdam, Nederland)3 - is a mixture containing eleven homeopathic medicines in potencies ranging from 12C-200C.
Randomized porcine studies show homeopathic mixtures - reduce diarrhea of suckling piglets,4 and reduce weight loss in weaned piglets.5 Homeopathic medicine may alleviate intestinal disorders in piglets,6 porcine diarrhea and intestinal burdens of Escherichia coli,*7 and could be a solution to lower the current use of veterinary antibiotics,89
An online database enabling overview of homeopathy veterinary clinical research is available,10 but despite increased global uptake and extensive acceptance and practice in France, Italy, Germany and India11 veterinary homeopathy studies decreased by 33% during the last decade.12
Homeopathy has a small but significant use by veterinary surgeons, and is an accepted practice by veterinary regulatory bodies worldwide including the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK.13
*As an aside, a proprietary RAD showed reduced faecal counts of Escherichia coli in calves and lambs,14 and a moderate efficacy in controlling diarrhea in new born lambs.15
https://kunekune.co.nz/
Dang & Kim, 2021. The effects of road transportation with or without homeopathic remedy supplementation on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and serum cortisol and superoxide dismutase levels in growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science. Apr 1;99(4):skab077. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8051841/
Dang & Kim, 2021.
Kiefer et al., 2012. Homeopathic complex in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in suckling piglets. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal. Jan13(1):74-82. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/rbspa/a/GGt8xN8KHGzThz5P9xYM8JS/abstract/?lang=en#
Soto et al., 2008. A randomized controlled trial of homeopathic treatment of weaned piglets in a commercial swine herd. Homeopathy. Oct;97(4):202-5. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19371569/
Felippelli & Valente, 2009. Use of homeopathic medicinal products incorporated into piglet feed and assessment of the incidence of disorders from 7 to 28 day of age. Nucleus Animalium. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341917767_UTILIZACAO_DE_MEDICAMENTOS_HOMEOPATICOS_INCORPORADOS_A_RACAO_DE_LEITOES_E_AVALIACAO_DA_INCIDENCIA_DE_AFECCOES_DO_7_AO_28_DIA_DE_IDADE
Camerlink et al., 2010. Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets. Homeopathy. Jan;99(1):57-62. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20129177/
Ellinger, L. 2019. Antimicrobial resistance in production animals. Can homeopathy offer solutions? – Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of neonatal diarrhoea in piglets. Rev. d’Homeopathie. 10:e41–e45. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878973019301586
Weiermayer et al., 2020. Evidenzbasierte Veterinär-/Homöopathie und ihre mögliche Bedeutung für die Bekämpfung der Antibiotikaresistenzproblematik – ein Überblick [Evidence-based homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, and its potential to help overcome the anti-microbial resistance problem - an overview]. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. Oct;162(10):597-615. German, French. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33006555/ Synopsis at https://cam-europe.eu/evidence-based-homeopathy-and-veterinary-homeopathy/
Clausen & Albrecht, 2010. Database on veterinary clinical research in homeopathy. Homeopathy. Jul;99(3):189-91. Available from https://www.carstens-stiftung.de/datenbanken-zur-integrativen-medizin.html#/
Lees et al., 2017(b). Comparison of veterinary drugs and veterinary homeopathy: part 2. Vet Rec. Aug 19;181(8):198-207. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5738588/
Domingues et al., 2022. Bibliometric trend analysis of non-conventional (alternative) therapies in veterinary research. Vet Q. Dec;42(1):192-198. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9662055/
Fortuoso et al., 2018. Homeopathic treatment as an alternative prophylactic to minimize bacterial infection and prevent neonatal diarrhea in calves. Microb Pathog. Jan;114:95-98. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321280531_Homeopathic_treatment_as_an_alternative_prophylactic_to_minimize_bacterial_infection_and_prevent_neonatal_diarrhea_in_calves
Fortuoso et al., 2019. Reduction of stool bacterial counts and prevention of diarrhea using an oral homeopathic product in newborn lambs. Microb Pathog. Feb;127:347-351. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30553908/