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Use of homeopathic product to prevent ketosis in the dairy sheep during the transition period

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Abstract

Pregnancy toxemia is a severe problem in sheep in the transition period, which is most likely related to feeding. There is a need to seek alternatives to this problem, and the homeopathic industry has invested in products for this purpose. The product (Figotonus®) tested in this work was added to the diet of dairy sheep at different dosages (1, 5, and 10 g/day/animal) to verify the effects on animal health indicators, focusing mainly on the reduction of cases of ketosis. In all, 32 Lacaune ewes were used, with confirmed pregnancy presenting two to six births during their lifetime. The following blood biochemical indicators—total proteins (PT), albumin (ALB), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (COL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and ß-ketone—were measured. The volume of milk produced was measured, as well as the milk composition (protein, fat, lactose, fat-free dry matter, density, total solids, and minerals). As a result, we found significant differences in the ß-ketone, ALT, and GGT in day 3 prepartum and day 3 postpartum. We highlight the lower ß-ketone levels in the homeopathic-treated animals, as well as reduced ALT and GGT enzyme activity in the treated sheep. Milk production did not differ between groups, nor did milk composition, except for mineral levels in milk (higher levels in treated animals). The commercial product tested had a beneficial effect on health indicators of dairy sheep in the transition period, preventing ketone bodies to increase in the sheep.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil

    Edimar Custódio, Chrystian J. Cazarotto, Jhonatan P. Boito, Angelisa H. Biazus, Gabriela M. Galli, João H. Reis & Roger R. Gebert

  2. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil

    Matheus D. Baldissera & Aleksandro S. Da Silva

  3. Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Gustavo Machado

  4. São Paulo, Brazil

    Emanuel B. Ferreira

Authors
  1. Edimar Custódio
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  2. Matheus D. Baldissera
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  3. Gustavo Machado
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  4. Chrystian J. Cazarotto
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  5. Jhonatan P. Boito
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  6. Angelisa H. Biazus
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  7. Gabriela M. Galli
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  8. João H. Reis
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  9. Roger R. Gebert
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  10. Emanuel B. Ferreira
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  11. Aleksandro S. Da Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aleksandro S. Da Silva.

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Experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC) under number 4318050916.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Custódio, E., Baldissera, M.D., Machado, G. et al. Use of homeopathic product to prevent ketosis in the dairy sheep during the transition period. Comp Clin Pathol 26, 535–541 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2414-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2414-6

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