Volume 104, Issue 1, January 2015, Pages 9–14
Original paper
Effect of a homeopathic complex on reproductive performance in a commercial pig farm
Background and aim
Alternative
therapies based on homeopathy can be effective in improving
reproductive performance in intensive pig breeding. In this study, the
effect of a homeopathic complex on reproductive performance of sows
under intensive farming has been investigated.
Material and methods
Over
period of three years, 186 sows were recruited from a farm where a
large proportion of animals were suffering from prolonged
weaning-to-oestrus intervals (WEI) and weaning-to-service intervals
(WSI). Sows were allocated to two groups; once per month, one group was
given a homeopathic complex (Borax 10 mK plus Lycopodium 10 mK),
while the other group was given a hydro-alcoholic solution (placebo).
The follow-up period started one week before the expected date of
oestrus, continued for two pregnancies and ended after the weaning of
the second farrowing. To evaluate reproductive performance, during the
follow-up we collected data on quantitative parameters such as the
average number of stillbirths, newborns, and repeat services per
farrowing. Time-related data such as WEI, WSI, length of the two
pregnancies and weaning periods were also collected to measure the
length of the follow-up of each sow. Differences in quantitative
parameters between the two groups were evaluated using parametric and
non-parametric statistics. Time-related data were used to plot
Kaplan–Meier curves and in Cox regression models to evaluate whether
treated sows had a higher probability of experiencing a shorter
follow-up in comparison to untreated sows.
Results
We
did not found significant differences in the number of newborns, while
the number of stillbirths was higher in the treatment group, even if the
difference was slightly significant (p-value = 0.03). The number of repeat services was lower in the treatment group, and this difference was highly significant (p-value < 0.001).
Results from the Cox regression models suggest that the end of the
follow-up was reached by sows of the treatment group at about twice the
rate of sows of the control group (model 2, Hazard Ratiotreatment = 2.27; 95%CI: 1.56–3.24).
Keywords
- Intensive farming;
- Pigs;
- Reproductive performance;
- Borax;
- Lycopodium
Copyright © 2014 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
