EFFECT OF A HOMEOPATHIC COMPOUND ON SOMATIC CELL COUNT AND MILK PRODUCTION IN “PARDA ALPINA” GOATS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homeopathic compound in the treatment and prevention of mastitis in goats, especially by analyzing its effect on somatic cell count and milk production before, during and after its administration. Forty dairy goats of “Pardo Alpina” breed were randomly divided in a double-blind experiment into two groups. The animals were weekly evaluated for somatic cell count (SCC) and milk production. Before the homeopathic treatment, the control group had 1.42 x10³ cells/mL (log-transformed value) and 1.10 liters of daily mean production, compared to 1.31 x10³ cells/mL and 0.9 liters of mean production by the experimental group. During the experiment, the control group had increased LogSCC values and decreased milk production (2.11 x10³ cells/mL and 1.00 L, respectively); the same was noticed for the experimental group (1.97 x10³ cells/mL and 0.80 L milk, respectively). Such facts suggest that there is interference of external factors on the increased milk cellularity in the different periods, not necessarily due to the homeopathic compound. In the present study, SCC and milk production were not affected by the homeopathic compound.