History + activities 2017-2018 Natural Livestock Farming

Drs Katrien van’t Hooft Dier & Kruid Wageningen 11 Dec 2018

Personal intro Dr. Katrien van‘t Hooft

Dutch veterinarian with extensive dairy experience world wide

Director Dutch Farm Experience

+ international coordinator Natural Livestock Farming (NLF)

Since 2014 Center of Expertise for

Natural Livestock Farming (NLF)

Structural collaboration

between Netherlands, India

Ethiopia and Uganda

Practical innovations, farmer-

veterinarian interaction

Combining knowledge from

different country-backgrounds

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Improved animal & farm management

Use of medicinal plants

Milk quality control

Extra payment

Five layer strategy for natural livestock farming and an!bio!c reduc!on in

dairy farming

Strategic useof local breeds

www.naturallivestockfarming.com

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Milk quality control on residues. Herbal quality control. Regulatory mechanisms

Animal health & farm monitoring systemsEnvironmental monitoring. Human health monitoringRecord keeping. Selection of bulls.Stress that Dutch farmers are using local breeds again

Stable books on use on natural products. Preventive use of herbs in grassland.Fact that herbal medicine is gaining popularity

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1Validation of herbs; Trials, training of veterinarians and farmers, Product development. Adapted regulations

More robust breeds. Adapted selection criteria

Integrated farm management with minimum or zero use of antibiotics

Extra payment for antibioticPlow/free produced milk

NETHERLANDS

UGANDA

Mutual learning in Natural Livestock Farming

Experience, documentation, validation, traning vets and farmers, webbased info systems and plan for mobile app

Private sector engagement for separate premium milk chain

Fact that local (Vecchur) breeds are gaining importance

Training more farmers and veterinarians in use of herbs and other natural products

Milk quality control systems adapted to smallholders

Animal health and farm improvements

Strategic use of local breeds

Increased productivity and extra payment for premium milk

CommunityP based breeding system for improved crossbreeding. Nucleus breed system for improving local cattle breeds

Documentation of pastoralist practices with herbs and other natural products

Importance of local breeds for livelihood and climate resilience

Marketing of niche products from local breeds

Validation of local herbs + other natural productsTraining of veterinarians and farmers. Herbal product development

Milk quality regulations training and infraPstructure

Increased productivity Extra payment for residuePfree milk

Upscaling of community based breeding systems

Animal health improvements

Use of herbs for replacing acaricides. Documentation, validation and training on use of herbs and other natural products. Herbal product development

Nucleus breed system to improve local breeds. Record keeping

Milk quality regulations training and infraPstructure

Increased productivity. Extra payment for residuePfree milk

Animal health improvements

Needed:To offer:

Validated herbal products and practices to replace antibiotics for animal health care

Baseline and endPline data for the residues. Intervention impact study

������������ ����������� ������������approach for reducing the use of antibiotics and other chemicals in dairy farming

Defining Natural Livestock Farming

Balanced way of farming aiming for highest natural resilience of animals, soils and environment

Focus: Disease prevention rather than cure

Goals: residue-free products, good income for farmers, reduced pollution of environment

Participating organisations

Netherlands:

India:

Ethiopia: Uganda: NLF Uganda

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2014: start of Natural Livestock Farmingexchanges between Netherlands – Indian vets & farmers on reducing antibiotic use in dairy farming

Topic: use of medicinal plants

Trans-Disciplinary Institute (TDU) + Tamil Nadu Veterinary ScienceUniversity (TANUVAS)Unique and extensive expertise on Etno-Veterinary Practices!

In 2015: Exchange extended to Africa: Ethiopia and Uganda with focus on cattle breeding

Topic: strategic cross-breeding andcommunity-based local breed conservation

Uganda: crossbreeding with Holstein Friesianleading to high use of acaricides for tick control -

and antibiotics due to East Coast Fever

Acaricides: loss of bees, butterflies, tick eating birdsNo control of chemical residues in milk

Natural Livestock Farming 5-layer strategyto reduce the use of antibiotics and other chemicals

in dairy farming

NLF One Health pilot projects 2017-2020

Healthy Cows – Healthy Food – Healthy Environment:

Enhancing safety and quality of milk

54

234

1

5

234

1

5

5

234

1

21

2

1

23

1

234

1

Improved animal & farm management

Use of medicinal plants

Milk quality control

Extra payment

Five layer strategy for natural livestock farming and an!bio!c reduc!on in

dairy farming

Strategic useof local breeds

www.naturallivestockfarming.com

NE

TH

ER

LAN

DS

IND

IAE

TH

IOPI

AU

GA

ND

A

NE

TH

ER

LAN

DS

IND

IAE

TH

IOPIA

UG

AN

DA

Milk quality control on residues. Herbal quality control. Regulatory mechanisms

Animal health & farm monitoring systemsEnvironmental monitoring. Human health monitoringRecord keeping. Selection of bulls.Stress that Dutch farmers are using local breeds again

Stable books on use on natural products. Preventive use of herbs in grassland.Fact that herbal medicine is gaining popularity

234

1Validation of herbs; Trials, training of veterinarians and farmers, Product development. Adapted regulations

More robust breeds. Adapted selection criteria

Integrated farm management with minimum or zero use of antibiotics

Extra payment for antibioticPlow/free produced milk

NETHERLANDS

UGANDA

Mutual learning in Natural Livestock Farming

Experience, documentation, validation, traning vets and farmers, webbased info systems and plan for mobile app

Private sector engagement for separate premium milk chain

Fact that local (Vecchur) breeds are gaining importance

Training more farmers and veterinarians in use of herbs and other natural products

Milk quality control systems adapted to smallholders

Animal health and farm improvements

Strategic use of local breeds

Increased productivity and extra payment for premium milk

CommunityP based breeding system for improved crossbreeding. Nucleus breed system for improving local cattle breeds

Documentation of pastoralist practices with herbs and other natural products

Importance of local breeds for livelihood and climate resilience

Marketing of niche products from local breeds

Validation of local herbs + other natural productsTraining of veterinarians and farmers. Herbal product development

Milk quality regulations training and infraPstructure

Increased productivity Extra payment for residuePfree milk

Upscaling of community based breeding systems

Animal health improvements

Use of herbs for replacing acaricides. Documentation, validation and training on use of herbs and other natural products. Herbal product development

Nucleus breed system to improve local breeds. Record keeping

Milk quality regulations training and infraPstructure

Increased productivity. Extra payment for residuePfree milk

Animal health improvements

Needed:To offer:

Validated herbal products and practices to replace antibiotics for animal health care

Baseline and endPline data for the residues. Intervention impact study

������������ ����������� ������������approach for reducing the use of antibiotics and other chemicals in dairy farming

Netherlands: FoundationPlatform Natuurlijke Veehouderij

Supported by Province OverijsselAgro&Food program 2016-2019

Netherlands activities 2017-2018 (1)

• Small scale trials with herbal remedies – calf scour and tick control (VKON)

• Collaboration on herbs in grassland (LBI)

• Collaboration with 3 artists• Questionnaire amongst vets

and farmers • National conference – 8 March

2018

April 2017: 3rd exchange between Netherlands -India – with focus on course development for

vets and farmers on use natural products

Activities Netherlands (2)

Activities Netherlands 2018 (3)

• Start (pilot) course for vets ‘Use natural products in veterinary practice’

• Start course for farmers ‘Healthy cattle feeding with herbs

• In process for funding:Natural ways of liverfluke –

and tick control

Ongoing activities India

• Training veterinarians and farmers on herbal medicine– With National Dairy Development Board– Sikim organic state– 2 dairy companies (MILMA and KMF)

• Developing herbal products – especially mastitis

Ongoing activities India

17 Dec2018 Ayurveda veterinary conference at National Dairy development Board (NDDB) in Anand

Indian partners recognized as leaders of antibiotic reduction schemes for dairy in India

Ongoing activities – Uganda

Herbal alternatives fortick control, mastitis + calf diarrhea

Documentation andvalidation of herbs in Uganda

with SNV Uganda & National Agricultural Research Centre (NARO)

Collaboration 2017-2018SNV-Uganda & NLF

1. Collaboration with India NLF partners (Trans-Disciplinary University – TDU and Dutch Farm Experience)

2. Training on herbal remedy + application method3. Field trial with 4 farmers 4. Lab trial at NARO

Outcomes – some challenges1. First impression: blue tick is sensitive, red-ear tick is less

sensitive (both lab and field study)2. Washing off during rainy season3. Laborious preparation + application method4. June 2017: some plant materials used were not correct5. Import of Acolus Calamus from India

Outcomes – steps forward and opportunities

1. Interest for herbal remedies SNV and farmers now expanded to other cattle diseases

2. Possibilities for cost reduction and income generation herbal gardens

3. Documentation and validation of Ugandan herbs will be done in 2019

4. Latest: new herbal recipe found within Uganda5. Collaboration with Pharmbiotrac – WHO institute at

Mbarara university

Participatory analysis SNV-Uganda - NLFon mortality rates and disease incidence

Reasons for mortality:1. Tick control2. Tick-born diseases3. Calf diarrhea / worms4. Foot & Mouth Disease5. Mastitis

Mortality ratesCow mortality: 18-20 %Calf mortality: varying 30to60%

Ongoing activities – Ethiopia

Project background

• NWO-Applied Research Fund (ARF) project (3 years)• October 2017-October 2020• Leader: ESAP (Ethiopian Society of Animal

Production)• NL Partners: RIKILT, Dutch Farm Experience• Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources

(incl. VDFACA laboratories)

Project goals

Overall goal: Improve quality and quality of milk in terms of chemical (antibiotic) residues

• Enhance the laboratory control capacity• Improve cattle health in two pilot communities,

through implementation of the Natural Livestock Farming (NLF) 5-layered methodology

• Establish outcomes through milk quality control

1. Improving laboratory capacity

• Review of VDFACA (The Ethiopian Veterinary Drug and Feed Administration). – Brand-new laboratory building – modern equiptment

– Motivated but inexperienced staff

• Antibiotic and aflatoxin residues!

• Oct 2018 - training RIKILT on quality control (NL - 5 days)

2. Improving cattle health in two dairy communities

• Region of Debre Zeit - peri-urban communitiesRelocated farmersCommon place settlement farmers

• Between 2 and 10 cattle per farmer• Zero-grazing system, landless farmers

Participatory analysis: high livestock mortality

Adult cattle: 16% and 18% per yearhoofproblems, mastitis, foot & mouth disease

Calves: average 73% and 56% per yearweakness at birth, diarrhea, blindness, ascites

NLF – layer 1: Animal management analysis

• Feeding:

– Low quality and quantity of fodder

– Improper feed balance Feed quality –

impurity (aflatoxine?)

• Water:

– lack of clan water provision

– often mixed with feed

• Housing:

– lack of ventilation, drainage

– Uncomfortable floors

– tied too short

– Manure waste management

• Fertility problems• Continued cross breeding with Holstein Friesians• Low resilience – high calf mortality• Inbreeding – in use of bulls• Lack of timely AI service• Farmers have no say in semen used

NLF – layer 2: Breeding

• Some curative and preventive use• Interest in learning /using more • One farmer specialized in growing herbs

NLF – layer 3: Use of herbs

• No quality control at the moment• Hygiene limited• Mastitis frequent • Aflatoxine residues expected• Antibiotic residue levels may be low due to

lack of service providers

NLF – layer 4: Milk quality control

• Milk marketed through formaldairy chain

• Profitability low due to:– high costs of feeding (all

feedstuff bought in market– high mortality rates

• Veterinary services often notavailable and expensive

NLF – layer 5: Farm income

Next steps

• Survey 60 farmers • Base line milk quality control• Priotization of management improvements• Calf health – reduction mortality focus • Workshop on herbal alternatives + setting up

herbal gardens • Collaboration with SNV – WUR dairy program

– Donation of hygienic milking can– Support Aflatoxine reducing trial with Bentonite– Upscaling of animal health project outcomes

www.naturallivestockfarming.comwww.natuurlijkeveehouderij.nl

katrien@dutchfarmexperience.com

Together we can make change happen!