07/02/07 Acupuncture and Dairy Cattle

It is not uncommon for show horses to receive chiropractic care like deep muscle massages for pain or injury relief so it seems only fitting that cattle, especially the bovines that work so hard to bring us our milk should enjoy the benefits of alternative medicine as well. A group of dairy farmers in the Willamette Valley led by an innovative vet, Dr. Tina Johnson from Newberg have discovered that mastitis and other dairy cattle ailments actually respond well to acupuncture. Acupuncture has provided a valuable solution for farmers that are certified organic and can't use traditional antibiotics. Dairy men cite a 75-80 percent success rate using acupuncture techniques and many are finding it an alternative way to treat a variety of ailments including fevers and cystic ovaries. Apparently the technique works similar to probiotics by strengthening the immune system to facilitate in heeling. After being trained by their vet dairymen can then treat their herd themselves by inserting a series of tiny needles into specific points in the cattle for10- 15 minutes durations. And the dairy cows, they actually seem to enjoy the attention.