Ethno-veterinary medicine for prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis

Mastitis affects a large number of dairy cattle throughout the world. Mastitis in India increased 115 times in the last 50 years and the loss of revenue is about Rs. 71655 million annually [1]. The incidence of resistant mastitis in dairy cows in Tamil Nadu, India is 56.l %- Escherichia coli (50.64%), Staphylococcus aureus (44.25%) and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (5.11%) [2]. Freshly prepared fine paste of Aloe vera leaves, Curcuma longa rhizome and calcium hydroxide applied 10 times per day for 5 days cured mastitis. If it is chronic mastitis add two pieces of Cissus quadrangularis with the above mixture and grind and apply for at least three weeks. A clinical trial using parameters like pH, Somatic Cell Count and Electrical Conductivity recorded as pre and 6 days post treatment with EVP in 27 animals indicated that all selected parameters became normal within 6 days of treatment. This formulation can be used to prevent mastitis by applying this paste for three times a day during last trimester of pregnancy. Field study indicates herbal formulation used for all types of mastitis (sub-clinical, clinical and chronic) in dairy cattle have 91.7% efficacy. In Ayurveda mastitis is known as Sthanavidhradi, a disease of pitta origin, the drugs used in this formulation are potent pittashamaka. This formulation consists of Aloe vera, Curcuma longa and Calcium hydroxide which are having the properties of Krimighna (anti-microbial), Vranashodaka (Wound cleanser), Vranaropaka (Wound healing) and Shothahara (anti-inflammatory). Hence mastitis can be efficiently managed with this formulation.

[1] NDRI News April-June 2012 17, 1.

[2] D Chandrasekaran, et.al. 2015. India. J. Applied and Nat. Sce. 7: 304 – 308