EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL WHITE NEEDLE ACUPUNCTURE AND AQUAPUNCTURE ON MASTITIS AND MILK PRODUCTION IN DAIRY CATTLE

Abstract

Philipp J Vet Anim Sci 2013, 39 (1): 133-140

Eighteen Holstein-Friesian x Sahiwal crossbred lactating cows, 3-8 years old, previously diagnosed with mastitis were used to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on mastitis and milk production. The animals were distributed randomly into one control (non-treated) and two acupuncture treatment groups, conventional white needle acupuncture (CWNA) group and aquapuncture group, with six animals per group. For the acupuncture groups, two acupoints, Bai-Hui and Nyukon were stimulated daily for three consecutive days and repeated after a week for two weeks. The CWNA group was stimulated by thrusting and twirling of filiform needles for one minute at five minute intervals for 20-30 min daily. For the Aquapuncture group, 1 ml of 1% chilli pepper decoction was injected into each acupoint using a hypodermic needle. The observation period lasted for three months. Improvement against mastitis was observed in the Aquapuncture group but not in the CWNA and Control groups. The average daily milk production presented as percentage change in milk production showed that the Control group had the steepest decline while CWNA group had the least decline. The above results suggest that aquapuncture has the potential to decrease incidence of mastitis while both CWNA and aquapuncture have the potential to increase milk production.