Counting Sheep

Posted on | August 18, 2009 | No Comments

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Sheep Field Study

Energetix Sponsors Animal Research Project
New Horizons in Patient Compliance
Counting Sheep

by Erich Worster

It is 100 degrees and nearly 100% humidity, not ideal conditions to be chasing a flock of sheep with an eyedropper of tincture! Ensuring that patients are taking their remedies is a challenge for all practitioners, but when you’re treating animals you sometimes have to get inventive. Because of the heat and the fact that sheep are generally overdressed for the Georgia climate, we needed to find a simple means of administering the remedies. Also, if we do show a promising effect using homeopathics and botanicals to reduce the need for drug therapies, they need to be easy to administer if they are going to be a practical help to shepherds.

The major threat to sheep in our area is a round worm (Haemonchus Contortus) that is contracted during feeding in the field. While a number of Energetix products address parasites, the homeopathic tincture Para-Chord, an Attenuated Nosode Detoxifier was selected since it is formulated for non-water borne parasites.

Once the “study group” and “test group” (15 lambs per group) were securely settled into their respective pastures, we were able to establish a weekly rhythm of checking and treating. On Tuesday mornings the groups of lambs are herded into separate holding pens by Zen, Vickey Russell’s amazing sheep dog (www.bluedogacademy.com). While Zen cools down in a tub of water, Vickey checks the lamb’s eyelids for color. A white eyelid is a sign of anemia, the primary symptom of the worm’s presence. Those that show advanced signs of anemia are treated with a worming medication and, for the test group, a dose of the botanical remedy Core Olive Leaf Extract. Each group is then given half of a sheep feed block which provides nutrients and minerals and also makes the lambs thirsty. We make good use of the lambs thirst to ensure that they take their remedies. Both groups are given a ten gallon trough of water and the test group has 2 ounces of Para-Chord added to their trough.

Thirsty Sheep

This is a very low maintenance routine with only a small dose of product being used. The experiment will be considered a preliminary success if the test group shows a statistically significant difference to the control group for needing less worming medicine. If we see a difference we can begin to experiment with different methods and quantities to optimize this treatment.

On Fridays the lambs are given another feed block and another 2 ounces of Para-Chord in ten gallons of water. On both Tuesdays and Fridays, once the ten gallons of water are consumed, the troughs are refilled and the lambs can drink freely. The water restriction is purely to ensure consumption of the tincture treated water.

We will continue this routine through mid September, which covers the hottest months when infection rates are highest. Ninety days should also provide a good pool of data to see if there is a difference between the two groups. Be sure to check back with us then to see the results of this fascinating “field” test.