Natural products: an animal-friendly alternative to antibiotics

A cow needs to devour one kilo of cattle feed to produce a tender steak of 120 grams. Besides, a total of almost 1800 litres of water is needed to produce this steak. For 120 grams of pork 630 litres is required, and for 120 grams of chicken 480 litres is needed. Concerns arise regarding the cleanliness of the surface water for those animals. Today's dairy and meat farming industry increasingly demands sustainable products for its animals. They contribute to better animal health, and in turn to higher productivity when producing milk, cheese, eggs and meat. By placing animal welfare first, the welfare of people is positively influenced.

Biochem Products offers a range of products for dairy, calves, pigs, goats and poultry. Their assortment of natural products consists of boluses, tablets, pills, liquids and powders. Boluses release over time, this way providing their medicinal effect over a longer time. Depending on the type of animal, the release period can be anywhere between one and 180 days. Examples of livestock diseases are: abscess, inflammatory diseases, poultry red mite, coccidiosis, diarrhoea, high somatic cell count, ketosis, decreases resistance, worms, stress, a negative energy balance, foot rot and lethargy.

The overall body condition of the livestock increases by using the natural supplements of Biochem Products. Among others, a reduced blood fat value, more antioxidants in the animal's liver, an improved nutrient absorption, an activated immune system, overall improved resistance of the livestock, improved metabolism, greater disease resistance, better fertility, increased milk delivery, higher unsaturated milk fatty acids, improved protein and fat levels, enhanced antibacterial bowel function, improved digestive tract, controlled diarrhoea causes, disturbed parasites and bacteria, improved animal growth, antimicrobial and oxidative effects, healthy intestines, healthy food for posterity, overall reduced stress, more antibodies, a positive energy balance and supported fermentation in the rumen. They are too many pro-biotic effects to mention. Undoubtedly, healthy cow intestines help to reduce climate-unfriendly methane emissions, because cows’ farts would be less polluting.

With their various animal-friendly solutions, Biochem Products contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, 15 (life on land), 14 (life under water), 6 (clean water), 3 (human health) and finally, 12 (responsible consumption). In short, Biochem Products offers a plant-based, natural and sustainable alternative to artificial veterinary medicines. Not only is the health of the livestock improved, but life expectancy is also increased. Also, healthier offspring is produced and the animals form a healthier food source for humans.

All raw materials that Biochem Products uses are produced in Europe, meeting the requirements of the applicable European legislation and regulations. Accredited laboratories regularly analyse the sustainable solutions. For example, the company has had the "GMP Plus" certificate for years. This international quality standard for a "Good Manufacturing Process" ensures good composition and production at the production site in Enter. "Plus" stands for the addition of the HACCP standard to the GMP standard. This concerns a risk inventory for foods, which is a good addition to the quality standard, which guarantees the quality and safety of animal feed.

Biochem Products continues to invest in the future. Through collaboration with knowledge institutions - including the nutrition faculty of Wageningen University aadn the veterinary medicine faculty of Utrecht University – the progressive company is able to implement improvements and innovations in both sustainable products and high-quality production processes. Biochem Products contributes to the international dissemination of knowledge and experience. As an active member of the Natural Livestock Farming Foundation, they collaborate with farmers, veterinarians and scientists from the Netherlands, India, Uganda and Ethiopia. Exchange of knowledge and expertise on the application of herbs in dairy farming is a central topic. The Natural Livestock Farming Foundation is supported in part by Oxfam Novib. 

Arie Boorsma, CEO of Biochemproducts, took part in an exchange with India in 2015 and was a guest of the Institute of Ayurvedic and Integrated medicine (I-AIM) in Bangalore for a week.

Boorsma: ‘My visit to southern India was a culture shock: there are enormous differences between Dutch and Indian dairy farmers. The farmers there are usually women, and they have on average no more than one or two cows. However, because there are so many Indians, this involves massive numbers. The use of antibiotics is also massive; they can be bought on any street corner and are used very frequently, often inappropriately. It appears that around 30 per cent of all baby milk in India contains (traces of) antibiotics. That is bad for the health of Indian children in the future. After all, if they get an illness in a later stage of their life, certain antibiotics can no longer have their healing effect due to resistance. Pure milk and other dairy products are, therefore, crucial for public health."

The I-AIM Institute in Bangalore is inventorying and studying medicinal plants, combining the age-old Ayurvedic health system with modern medical science. I-AIM is working closely with Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University (TANUVAS).

Arie Boorsma: “There is a great deal of knowledge available, but turning this into practice is still not yet occurring sufficiently. I am supported in my conviction that we (BIOCHEM, ed.) are on the right track. The healing properties of, for example, turmeric, aloe vera and garlic have been accepted in India for centuries. We also use these herbs in our products and achieve excellent results with them.”