Reproductive performance of sows inseminated with diluted semen treated with homeopathic medicine

Aims: this study sought to assess the reproductive performance of sows inseminated with sperm treated with homeopathic medicines. Materials and methods: the semen of 2 sexually mature boars age 18 months Pietrain and Duroc cross-bred with similar genetic and reproductive performance were chosen, as well as 125 sows. Sixteen samples of semen were collected and standardized through semen evaluation. Three homeopathic preparations and a placebo (control) were tested on the sperm (n=31/32 per group): Avena sativa 6cH, Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH and Avena sativa 6cH + Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH. Sows were inseminated 3 times with the same estrous diagnostic procedures. Results: there was significant difference (p<0.05) between Avena sativa 6cH and the other 3 groups regarding the return to estrus and parturition rate. There was no significant difference among the groups regarding the number of newborn piglets. Conclusion: these data suggest that homeopathic preparation Avena sativa may be used directly on sperm cells to improve the parturition rate in technified swine farms.

Objetivos: este estudo buscou avaliar o rendimento reprodutivo de suínos inseminados com esperma tratado com medicamentos homeopáticos. Materiais e métodos: o esperma de dois suínos sexualmente maduros de 18 meses de idade híbridos Pietrain e Duroc, com rendimento genético e reprodutivo similares foi selecionado, assim como 125 fêmeas. Dezesseis amostras de esperma foram coletadas e estandarizadas através de avaliação do esperma. Três preparações homeopáticas e um controle (placebo) foram testados no esperma (n=31/32 por grupo): Avena sativa 6cH, Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH and Avena sativa 6cH + Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH. As fêmeas foram inseminadas 3 vezes com os mesmos procedimentos de diagnóstico do estro. Resultados: houve diferença significativa (p< 0,05) entre Avena sativa 6cH e os outros 3 grupos no retorno ao estro e taxa de partos. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos no número de recém-nascidos. Conclusão: os dados sugerem que a preparação homeopática Avena sativa pode ser utilizada diretamente nas células espermáticas para melhorar a taxa de partos em fazendas tecnificadas de criação de suínos.

Objetivos; este estudio busco evaluar el rendimiento reproductivo de porcinos inseminados com esperma tratado com medicamentos homeopáticos. Materiales y métodos: el esperma de 2 porcinos sexualmente maduros de 18 meses de edad híbridos Pietrain y Duroc, com rendimiento genético y reproductivo similares fue seleccionado, así como 125 hembras. Dieciséis muestras de esperma fueron recogidas y estandarizadas mediante evaluación del esperma. Tres preparados homeopáticos y un control (placebo) fueron testeados en el esperma (n=31/32 por grupo): Avena sativa 6cH, Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH and Avena sativa 6cH + Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH. Las hembras fueron inseminadas 3 veces con los mismos procedimientos de diagnóstico del estro. Resultados: hubo diferencia significativa (p< 0,05) para Avena sativa 6cH en comparación con los demás grupos en el retorno al estro y tasa de partos. No hubo diferencia significativa entre ninguno de los grupos en el número de recién nacidos. Conclusión: estos datos sugieren que el preparado homeopático Avena sativa puede ser directamente utilizado en las células espermáticas para mejorar la tasa de partos en granjas tecnificadas de porcinos.Palabras llave: porcinos; rendimiento reproductivo; esperma; homeopatía; estudio ciego controlado.

Evaluation of preventive homeopathic treatment against Colibacillosis in swine production

Escherichia coli is the most important etiologic agent implied in neonatal diarrhea in swine; colibacillosis is the disease with highest impact in production of swine. The demands of consumers for meat without chemical residues and the ban on the use of antibiotics and chemotherapics in production of swine compelled to find alternative therapeutic and preventive treatments. Aims: to assess homeopathic treatment as preventive against colibacillosis in swine. Methods: the study was conducted in a farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil; stools of 4 piglets with diarrhea were collected to establish the presence of E. coli; concomitantly it was performed a clinical exam to identify the symptoms leading to the choice of a homeopathy remedy. Newborn piglets were divided into 4 groups (n= 11 or 12): 1) control, subjected to antibiotic treatment against diarrhea; 2) homeopathic treatment, performed with Phosphorus 30cH according to the symptoms collected; 3) biotherapic treatment, performed with Escherichia coli 30cH prepared from the locally obtained bacteria; 4) homeopathic + biotherapics treatment. Results: all 3 groups treated with homeopathy/isotherapy presented a significant reduction of diarrhea compared to the control group (p=0.02); the group treated with Phosphorus 30cH + Escherichia coli 30cH presented the highest weight gain which was significant by comparison to all other groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: homeopathic and biotherapics treatment were more effective than antibiotics in the control of diarrhea in newborn piglets; combination of homeopathic and isopathic treatment resulted in the highest weight gain. These results suggest that homeopathy and isopathy are effective alternatives for the treatment of diarrhea by E. coli in newborn swine.