How To Wean Yourself from the Vet - Organic Livestock Handbook

[Guest guest]

Below is the section on How to Wean Yourself from the Vet from the *Organic

Livestock Handbook.*

 

Incidentally, in the Sheep section, I found reference to "Chaitanya Farms,

Newtonville, Ontario," run by producer Barry James. Just wondering, is there

any connection to the Hare Krsna movement? Does anybody know?

 

Anyway, as I read this, I was thinking of Prabhupada's quote that Lord Krsna's

first concern -- even before the comfort of the brahmanas -- is the comfort of

the cows. Dr. Hyde's perspective seems to focus in very practical terms on

providing comfort for the cows. Only number 8 could be interpreted as a

technique which would not be used by Krsna -- but also, I remember at

Gita-nagari hearing Gour Hari explain to a television reporter that we also

"cull" our cows -- by removing them from the active milking string. Only when

we cull them, we don't kill them, we simply move them to a comfortable

retirement.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

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How to Wean Yourself from the Vet

 

In the summer of '97 edition of the Holistic Management Quarterly, Taylor Hyde,

a vet from Oregon gave the following tips for designing a system for cattle

that

does not use antibiotics, deworming agenst, vaccines, pour-ons or mineral

supplements. It would work equally well for other types of livestock.

[*Comments* after each entry are Dr. Hyde's.]

 

1. Adjust your attitude to say, think and feel that you are the cause of all

disease in your herd (not organisms, weather, politicians, in-laws or technical

failure.

*This would prevent "attitudeosis" -- nothing changes until your attitude

changes.*

 

2. Put the animals only in places where you would want to be (avoid excessive

dust, mud, freezing wind and scorching heat).

*This would prevent stress and immune system suppression.

 

3. Allow the animals to dring where you would drink (avoid manure water or any

water that stinks).

*This could prevent dehydration and the spreading of germs that contribute to

pneumonia.*

 

4. Avoid starvation or overfeeding of animals. Feed a minimum of 2% body

weight per day, 20 lbs [8 kilos?] of dry feed per 1000 poun animal. And feed a

minimum o9f 8% 0protein to adult animals and a minimum of 25% protein to

animals

under one year of age (minimum of 1.6 pounds of protein per 1000 pound adult

animal.)

 

Allow 8 hours a day for grazing or eating.

*This would prevent su0ppression of the immune system and calving difficulty.*

 

5. Avoid mineral imalances by feeding a diversity of fed or forage. Graze off

the top half of the plant, then move on.

*This would prevent foot rot, pink-eye and pneumonia.*

 

6. Allow the animals to graze and be fed on ground where there is minimal

amount

of manure (avoid prolonged exposure to spoiled forage).

*This would minimize parasite exposure, cocciciosis, diarrhea and pink-eye.*

 

7. Avoid sudden feed changes (dry to lush, or high protein to high energy).

*This would prevent "gut ache," acidiosis, pneumonia and diarrrhea.*

 

8. Record and cull all animals requiring unnecessary assistance [as noted

above,

for devotees, cull would not mean kill, it would simply mean remove from the

milking string or working pool] and purchase seedstock from herds under strict

culling practice.

*This would prevent venereal disease and the breding of "wimp" animals that are

either searching for the pharmacy or a place to die.*

 

9. Move animals by your position in relation to the animal, not by force.

*This would prevent stress and is a faster method of livestock handling.*

 

10. Allow animals to exercise dialy.

*This would prevent obesity and enhance the immune system.*

 

*Most people get hung up on step 1!*

 

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"In winder, well adapted cattle are better off outside with access to shelter

during severe weather. Shutting cattle in humid, poorly ventilated barns is

just begging for respiratory disease."

-- Randy Kidd D.V.M.