An alternative approach to treating disease based on feather analysis is proving successful against chronic problems in free-range egg flocks.
Producers spend a great deal of time and money on keeping their flocks healthy, but conventional methods of diagnosis and treatment are not always 100% successful and problems can keep recurring.
Low egg weights and red mite infestation are just two examples of chronic cases, where veterinary intervention may not give satisfactory results. That is why a growing number of poultry managers are investigating alternative treatments.
Crossgates Bioenergetics was set up a decade ago by Julie Dodgson, a farmer's wife who turned to alternative remedies, after conventional treatments failed to alleviate her symptoms during a bout of ill health.
Convinced of the potential for using homeopathic remedies to prevent and treat a range of ailments, she started by offering a service for farm livestock. The business now employs 16 staff and has since extended its client list, to include human remedies and treatments for administration by horse and dog owners.
The firm's avian manager, Chris Riley describes bioenergetics as a "gentle system of healthcare that assists the body's in built defence mechanism to heal itself." It relies on the principle that when a bird is ill, its system is thrown out of balance. Strengthening immunity and correcting the imbalance - using an appropriate remedy - allows the body to heal itself, he says.
His main recommendation is to pick up warning signs at an early stage, a process that involves the monthly analysis of feather samples. These are sent through the post by the producer to the company's headquarters in Settle, North Yorkshire. The average sample will either contain feathers from around 20-30 birds per laying shed, or from a selection of birds which appear noticeably off-colour.
The sample pack is placed in a computerised "energetic test" machine. It runs through more than 200 categories, including bacteria, virus, parasites, toxins, fungi, nutritional, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems.
"Each category contains a unique frequency that is detected by a biofeedback response between the machine and the feathers," explains Mr Riley. "The testing produces highly specific results, so it is particularly helpful in cases where there is no obvious explanation for a general reduction in productivity.
"Our remedies can be applied in conjunction with veterinary medicines. In some instances, the two treatments used side by side can complement each other. If birds have been prescribed antibiotics by the vet, we would recommend dosing the birds with a probiotic mixture. This will encourage the level of beneficial bacteria in the gut and help in times of stress."
Mr Riley points out that no side effects or withdrawal periods are associated with using the remedies. They cover a wide range of poultry health issues, including low body or egg weights, red mite infestation, and feather or vent pecking.
All the remedies produced by Crossgates are in liquid form, administered via the header tank or fresh water drinkers. Rates and frequency of application are based on the type and size of flock, as well as the problem being addressed.
General combination remedies are offered alongside solutions for specific health problems. One example of a general preventative treatment is the Chick Health Remedy. It is designed to help the birds to tolerate the vaccines and sprays they receive in the first 16 weeks of life. It is recommended that the remedy is used from day old until 14 days, although it can be administered any time up to 16 weeks, depending on flock start dates, says Mr Riley.
Case study: Brian Robson, North Yorkshire
Organic free-range egg producer, Brian Robson has been using bioenergetic remedies from Crossgates for the past four years at Foxhall Farm, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. All the eggs are sold to Waitrose.
Having set up in production six years ago, Mr Robson's first flock was already in full lay, when he attended an organic producers' meeting and learned that homeopathy and bioenergetics could be used on hens. At the time, vent pecking was causing such a problem in the 2000-strong flock that mortality was averaging around 18%.
Half way through the management of the next flock, Mr Robson posted off a sample of feathers to Crossgates. Avian Health plus Feathercare was prescribed, having been designed to correct an amino acid imbalance that had been uncovered.
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