NLF in global magazine on Antibiotic Reduction
NEW STRATEGY TO REDUCE ANTIBIOTICS IN DAIRY FARMING is our recent publication in the December MISSET special issue entitled Antibiotic Reduction – Embracing the Challenge. It is a general description of the objectives,activities and outcomes of the NLF work in both smallholder dairy farming (India, Ethiopia and Uganda), and large scale dairy farming in the Netherlands.
New video on Calcium Deficiency in Dairy Cows
The collaboration between NLF and Agro-Eco is bearing its first fruits, with a new video on Calcium Deficiency in Dairy Cows. It presents numerous practical possibilities of how to prevent ‘milk fever’ in dairy cows under smallholder conditions, taking Indian dairy farmers as an example.
Milk fever is one of the common cattle diseases amongst high producing cross-bred dairy cows, and can easily lead to the death of the cow. Meanwhile, it is not common amongst local breed cattle. Therefore the knowledge from this video is especially crucial for those smallholder farmers who are starting to produce milk with crossbred dairy cattle.
Succes with NLF approach in Ethiopia
During the 2-day conference on Dairy Sector Transformationin Addis Ababa, organized by the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), the worldwide results of the Natural Livestock Farming approach were presented with experiences from India, Ethiopia, Uganda and The Netherlands. See NLF presentation at ESAP dairy conference
This gained international interest, especfially because of the possibility of a win-win-win-win, in terms of reduced antibiotic use as well as improved milk quality, milk quantity, farm income and environment. ESAP and the NLF Foundation are now requested to upscale the approach amongst Ethiopian smallholder farmers.
During the field visit to the dairy farmers in Debre Zeit that participated in the NLF pilot between 2018-2020, it became clear that farmers have embraced two major practices: using herbal recipes for five major cattle diseases including mastitis, and improvements in calf management.
This farmer proudly demonstrates the Aloe Vera plants in het homestead, used for mastitis treatment of her dairy cows. Her calf mortality is now reduced to zero!
Report of Nature Based Solutions; Herbs for dairy health in India and the Netherlands
In what way has the work on Herbs for Cattle Health developed in both India and the Netherlands over the past 5 years? During the webinar on 21st of October 2021 dairy farmers and veterinarians from both countries shared their experiences, and were inspired by the way they can learn from each other and improve cattle health through the use of herbs. See Full report seminar_Nature Based Solutions
In small scale dairy farming system in India this work has focused on Ethno-Veterinary medicine (see factsheet below)
In the large scale dairy farming system in the Netherlands this work has focused on herbs-rich grasslands (see factsheet below)
You can find the full PP presentations here:
Maria Groot – Wageningen Food Safety Research – Intro on Dairy Herbs project
Nair – TDU-Glohmsiwa-NLF India – Medicinal plants used in EVP
Ms Veda Panchmaveda – organic dairy farmer India 1 – Panchamveda Organic Farm and Dairy
Ms. Poongodi – organic dairy farmer India 2 – Mahizham organic farm
Ms. Laksmi Ottathaikkal – organic dairy farmer India 3 – Otthathaikkal farm
Hans NijBijvank – NL veterinarian – Biodiversity – Good for Cows?
Jan Paul Wagenaar – Researcher Louis Bolk Institute – Pasture Herbs: Developments in Dairy Farming
Deficient colostrum feeding crucial issue in dairy calf raising
The knowledge on adequate colostrum feeding of newborn calves is strikingly inadequate amongst smallholder dairy farmers worldwide. This was one of the main conclusions of the recent NLF webinar on natural calf management organized on 31st August 2021. Many farmers mistakenly believe that calf diarrhea is the result of colostrum feeding, rather than a way to prevent it. This finding has inspired AgroEco to start developing a learning video on this topic, for dairy farmers worldwide – which we will share soonest.
Please find the recording HERE
PRESENTATIONS:
Welcome and intro on NLF strategy – Katrien van’t Hooft (NLF Foundation)
The Healthy Dairy Calf management; effective calf management – Dr Ana Catharina Berge
Herbal remedies for common calf diseases – Prof. Natasan Punniamurthy (GLOHMSIWA/NLF India
31st of August 2021, NLF webinar on: Natural Ways of Dairy Calf Raising
Disease and mortality of young calves is one of the major issues for dairy farmers worldwide, and cause of low farm productivity. Moreover it is reason for high antibiotic use. How can this be improved? How to control calf diarrhea in a natural way? Find out in this third NLF seminar with several outstanding experts!
Tuesday August 31st, TIME:
- Europe (CET): 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM
- India: 2 PM – 4 PM
- East Africa: 11.30 AM – 1.30 PM
PROGRAM:
Welcome and intro on NLF 5-layer strategy – Katrien van’t Hooft (NLF Foundation)
Outcome of pilot NLF 5-layer strategy in smallholder dairy farming in Ethiopia – Daniel Temesgen (ESAP/ NLF Ethiopia)
The Healthy Dairy Calf: effective calf management during the first 6 months – Dr. Ana Catharina Berge (Berge Veterinary Consulting)
Herbal remedies for common calf diseases – Prof. Natasan Punniamurthy (GLOHMSIWA – NLF India)
Two NLF posters for conference Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals
Between June 7-9 2021 the International Conference on Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals is organized by the CGIAR - Anti Microbial Resistance hub. As NLF we have developed two posters:
- Strategic international collaboration for reduction of antibiotic use in dairy farming - with info on the results of NLF in India and the Netherlands
- Improving cattle health and reducing antibiotic use in 'Healthy Cattle' project in Ethiopia - with info of the pilot with the NLF 5-layer strategy in two peri-urban dairy communities in Ethiopia
See full posters below
