Healthy Livestock

Abstract

Keeping livestock healthy is a crucial challenge for family farms everywhere. For example, in the Netherlands intensive farming has led to environmental degradation and reliance on veterinary drugs. Dutch veterinarian Katrien van’t Hooft and colleagues are working with farmers to introduce ‘natural livestock farming’ (NLF) as a solution. In India, using a transdisciplinary approach, veterinarians are also learning to combine traditional practices with scientific approaches. In Nigeria, Fulani herders once used herbal remedies for livestock ailments, but younger generations have largely abandoned these practices in favour of veterinary drugs, raising concerns about antibiotic resistance and the loss of valuable knowledge. In Bolivia, the Yapuchiris are expert farmers, who actively share and validate local knowledge, like herbal salves for wounds, ensuring the preservation and wider application of traditional veterinary practices. Peri-urban Ugandan farmers use good microorganisms to keep animal bedding healthy and odour-free.