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Bacterial infections in Tamil Nadu's free-range Indigenous cattle: Insight into AYUSH treatments
Author
Ramachandran, M
Aravind, D
Saminathan, P
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

India takes pride in home a large livestock population, with Tamil Nadu alone housing approximately 9.5 million free-range cattle. These cattle are vital for rural livelihoods as they provide natural fertilizer, meat, milk, and even play a role in traditional Tamil bull fighting. However, due to climate change and polluted grazing lands, these animals are at risk of diseases like brucella, anthrax, pneumonia etc. Our study focused on 736, "Pullikulam”, indigenous cattle breed known for their disease resistance. We found that during winter (June-February), 2.3% of the animals contracted tuberculosis and pneumonia by grazing in shrub jungle. In summer (March-May), 1.08% suffered from diseases caused by organisms such as Clostridium, E. coli, and Mastitis during grazing in postharvest wet lands, diagnosed through immunological methods. These herd illnesses not only impact animal health but also cause financial hardship for marginal farmers, with an average daily revenue loss of $125 in our study group. Limited access to veterinary hospitals due to transportation and treatment costs is a major challenge. Indian system of medicine AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) offers a promising solution. India's rich botanical diversity provides a natural wealth of resources for animal healthcare. For centuries, farmers have relied upon plant-based AYUSH remedies to treat animal diseases. In our study, five different Siddha formulations are administered orally with bananas to symptomatic animals for 21 days which subsequently relieved of infections. These treatments promise to be safe and effective. Additionally, traditional knowledge empowers farmers to develop new herbal formulations for animal health management. This research paves the way for developing eco-friendly and cost-effective veterinary medicines based on AYUSH principles. It highlights the vulnerability of free-range cattle to diseases and the potential of AYUSH treatments as a solution. Furthermore, it underscores the valuable role of indigenous knowledge in preserving traditional veterinary practices

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 1856-1860. Theme: Theme 6 / Poster presentations – Theme 6
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
Indian system of Medicine
Siddha, AYUSH
Bacterial infections
Livestock health