Apple Cider Vinegar Supplementation of Goats – Initial Report€¢ Apple cider vinegar is held to...
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Page 1 of 3 November 2013 PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA www.practicalfarmers.org Livestock Apple Cider Vinegar Supplementation of Goats – Initial Report working together, always learning PRACTICAL Staff Contact: Margaret Dunn – (515) 232-5661 [email protected] Cooperators: • Dawn Anderson – Walker • Kathy Rose – Rockwell City • Joanne Peters – Newell Funding By: Walton Family Foundation Web Link: http://bit.ly/pfi_livestock Research Doeling goats munch on pumpkins at Kathy Rose’s Lyn farm. In a Nutshell • Apple cider vinegar has been long advocated for its health benefits. • Apple cider vinegar is held to have multiple medicinal purposes, ranging from improved haircoat, to greater milk production and reduced mastitis, to decreased urinary calculi in bucks, to increased doe kids of supplemented dams. • Three Iowa farms tested treatments of apple cider vinegar suppliments in goat production. • Animals were weighed at the begin- ning and end of the trial, and total and average daily gains were calculated. • No great gains were seen, but benefits were observed. Time Period: May-September 2013 Background Apple cider vinegar (ACV), an acidic fermentation product, has been long ad- vocated for its health benefits. It contains mainly acetic acid, as well as vitamins, mineral salts, some amino acids, polyphe- nols, and other organic compounds (John- ston and Gaas 2006). While not extensive or replicated in many larger mammals, trials on rodents have found lowered blood pressure after ACV supplementa- tion, perhaps due to changes in calcium absorption, possibly due to pH changes (Kondo et al. 2001). Among farmers, ACV is held to have multiple medicinal purposes, ranging from improved haircoat, to greater milk produc- tion and reduced mastitis, to decreased urinary calculi in bucks, to increased doe kids of supplemented dams (Welcome Home Farm 2011, Winter 2012). Some credit is given to the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in ACV, though the concentrations are extremely low (Mercola 2009). Meanwhile, farmers report goats enjoying water with some ACV added – perhaps the improved hydration is part of the health benefits (TheGoatSpot 2009). Acetic acid, the main acid of vinegar, is used by the mammary gland for fat synthesis (Marinez et al. 1976), but it is uncertain whether an animal will willingly consume enough ACV to cause a notice- able increase. In addition, the acid and other compounds are said to correct pH imbalances in the body; again the volume of ACV required to elicit a change is questionable (Acres USA). In hamsters, a connection has been found between off - spring sex and vaginal pH at mating; lower pH towards the end of estrus is correlated with more male births (Pratt et al 1987). While similar observations are made for cattle – more females if bred early – it is not known whether there is a pH differ - ence; and ACV supplementation should theoretically decrease pH (associated with males, at least in hamsters). Practi- cal Farmers, curious about these claims, designed a project to track differences in ACV-supplemented and unsupplemented goats over several months. Come next spring, the sex of the does’ kids will be reported as well.
Transcript of Apple Cider Vinegar Supplementation of Goats – Initial Report€¢ Apple cider vinegar is held to...
Page 1 of 3 November 2013PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA www.practicalfarmers.org
Livestock
Apple Cider Vinegar Supplementation of Goats – Initial Report
working together, always learning
PRACTICAL
Staff Contact:Margaret Dunn – (515) [email protected]
Cooperators:•Dawn Anderson – Walker•Kathy Rose – Rockwell City•Joanne Peters – Newell
Funding By:Walton Family Foundation
Web Link:http://bit.ly/pfi_livestock
Research
Doeling goats munch on pumpkins at Kathy Rose’s Lyn farm.
In a Nutshell• Applecidervinegarhasbeenlongadvocatedforitshealthbenefits.
• Applecidervinegarisheldtohavemultiplemedicinalpurposes,rangingfromimprovedhaircoat,togreatermilkproductionandreducedmastitis,todecreasedurinarycalculiinbucks,toincreaseddoekidsofsupplementeddams.
• ThreeIowafarmstestedtreatmentsofapplecidervinegarsupplimentsingoatproduction.
• Animalswereweighedatthebegin-ningandendofthetrial,andtotalandaveragedailygainswerecalculated.
• Nogreatgainswereseen,butbenefitswereobserved.
TimePeriod:
May-September2013
Background
Applecidervinegar(ACV),anacidicfermentationproduct,hasbeenlongad-vocatedforitshealthbenefits.Itcontainsmainlyaceticacid,aswellasvitamins,mineralsalts,someaminoacids,polyphe-nols,andotherorganiccompounds(John-stonandGaas2006).Whilenotextensiveorreplicatedinmanylargermammals,trialsonrodentshavefoundloweredbloodpressureafterACVsupplementa-tion,perhapsduetochangesincalciumabsorption,possiblyduetopHchanges(Kondoetal.2001).
Amongfarmers,ACVisheldtohavemultiplemedicinalpurposes,rangingfromimprovedhaircoat,togreatermilkproduc-
tionandreducedmastitis,todecreasedurinarycalculiinbucks,toincreaseddoekidsofsupplementeddams(WelcomeHomeFarm2011,Winter2012).Somecreditisgiventothevitamins,minerals,andothernutrientsinACV,thoughtheconcentrationsareextremelylow(Mercola2009).Meanwhile,farmersreportgoatsenjoyingwaterwithsomeACVadded–perhapstheimprovedhydrationispartofthehealthbenefits(TheGoatSpot2009).
Aceticacid,themainacidofvinegar,isusedbythemammaryglandforfatsynthesis(Marinezetal.1976),butitisuncertainwhetherananimalwillwillinglyconsumeenoughACVtocauseanotice-ableincrease.Inaddition,theacidandothercompoundsaresaidtocorrectpHimbalancesinthebody;againthevolume
ofACVrequiredtoelicitachangeisquestionable(AcresUSA).Inhamsters,aconnectionhasbeenfoundbetweenoff-springsexandvaginalpHatmating;lowerpHtowardstheendofestrusiscorrelatedwithmoremalebirths(Prattetal1987).Whilesimilarobservationsaremadeforcattle–morefemalesifbredearly–itisnotknownwhetherthereisapHdiffer-ence;andACVsupplementationshouldtheoreticallydecreasepH(associatedwithmales,atleastinhamsters).Practi-calFarmers,curiousabouttheseclaims,designedaprojecttotrackdifferencesinACV-supplementedandunsupplementedgoatsoverseveralmonths.Comenextspring,thesexofthedoes’kidswillbereportedaswell.
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Materials and Methods
Eachfarmerselectedanumberofanimalsfortesting,andwherepractical,dividedthemintotwotreatmentgroups,balancingeachgroupintermsofage,physiologicalstatus,andbreed.Onegroupwassupplementedwithapplecidervinegaratratesandfrequenciesdescribedbelow(Table 1),eitherbydirectoraldrenching,additionofACVtothewater,orboth.
Dependingonanimaltype,differentresponsevariablesweretracked.Adultanimalswereevaluatedforbodyconditionscore,andweightwhenpossible.Growing,weanedkidswereweighedatthestartandfinish,andeachmonthifpossible.Otherobservations,suchasveterinaryissuesandgeneralhealthandwell-being,werereported.
Results
Dawn AndersonOnDawn’sfarm,datawereanalyzedtocomparebothACV-treatedvscontrol,andbetweenthedifferentratesofACVtreatment(Table 2).Foreachmonthofthetrial,shesupplementedACVindifferentways.Duringthefirstmonth,animalsweregivenadailyoraldrenchoftheACV/watermixture;thisdecreasedtothreetimesweeklyinmonth2;onceweeklyinmonth
3;andinmonth4ACVwasaddedtothewaterbutnotgiventotheanimalsdirectly.Twoanimalsbecameilloverthecourseofthetrial(onetreatedandonenot)andwereexcludedfromfinalanalysis.TreatmentwithACValonedidnotsignificantlyaffectanimalaveragedailygain(ADG)overthecourseofthetrial.Whilesomemeans,particularlythoseforageandsex,appearverydifferent,theresultsweresovariablethatitisimpossibletoprovetherewasatreatmentdifference.
Whilenotstatisticallysignificant,animalsofdifferentageshadvastlydifferentgainsregardlessoftreatmentwithACVornot.
Cooperators and treatments
Cooperator Animals in Study Breed(s) ACV supplemen-
tation frequency ACV Dose
DawnAnderson
16(8treated,8control) Boer
Month1:doseddaily;month2:3x/wk,month3:1x/wk;month4:ACVinwaterat0.25c/5galwater
1:1water:ACV;1-20ccbyageandweight
KathyRose 14(7treated,7control)
Boer,LaMancha,Sable,Nubian 2x/wk 2:1water:vinegar;
2-4ccbyweight
JoannePeters 19(14treated,5control) Boer constant 1cup/20gal
water
Table 1
Effects of ACV supplementationon Anderson farm
Variable Value Gain (lb) ADG (lb/d)
TreatmentControl 6.08 0.22ACV 4.83 0.19
Period Overall 5.44 0.20
Age0-5months 7.77 0.281-2years 4.93 0.182+years -3.19 -0.07
SexMale 8.75 0.31Female 4.15 0.16
Table 2
Gain and ADG by monthon Anderson farm
Month Treatment Gain (lb) ADG (lb/d)
1Control 6.30 0.23ACV 5.13 0.18
2Control 6.63 0.24ACV 6.36 0.23
3Control 6.23 0.22ACV 6.24 0.22
4Control 5.14 0.18ACV 6.00 0.21
Table 3
Youngergrowinganimals(0-5monthsold)seemtohavegainedmoreweightintotalandgainedmoreweightperdaythandidolderanimals(over1yearold).Themostmatureanimalswere2-yearoldlactatingdoes,whonotunexpectedlylostweightduetonutritionaldemands.Whileanumericaldifferenceisseenbetweengainsofmalesandfemales,itwasnotstatisticallysignificantacrossACV-supplementedandunsupplementedanimals.
DawndecreasedthefrequencyofACVdosageeverymonth,andtheresultsareshownin Table 3.Acrossanimalageandsex,therewerenosignificantdifferencesbetweentreatmentsinanymonth;whileindividualperformancevaried,onthewholethetwotreatmentswereverysimilar.
Kathy RoseKathyandherfarmingpartnerJanetEgg-enbergerworkedwithagroupofdoelings(Feb/March2013birthdates).Halfweredosedtwiceweeklywith2-4ccofa2:1water:vinegarmixture.ThetrialstartedonJune1andcontinuedthroughtheendofOctober.Thedoeswereofvaryingbreeds:fourBoer,twoLamancha,twoSable,andsixNubian.OneoftheLamanchaswasaddedfollowingastatefairinJuly,buthadpreviouslybeenonACV.Therewereorigi-nallyfourSables,buttwodiedinAugustafterweatherchangesandthestressoftravelto/fromanothershow.Whenpossi-ble,Kathyputequalnumbersofdoesfromeachbreedintoeachtreatmentgroup.
Animalswereweighedatthebeginningandendofthetrial,andtotalandaveragedailygainswerecalculated.Nodifferenceswereobservedbetweenbreedsortreat-mentsforweightsorgains(Table 4).
Kathyalsopurchasedafecaltestingkit,totryandcheckforparasiteloads.However,withthedrysummer,parasitelevelswerequitelowinallanimals.ShealsoreportedthattheyaddedACVtothewaterbucketsofotheranimalgroups,andsaidthatitkilledthealgaeinthosetanks.Overthetrial,fivegallonsofACVwereused,costingatotalof$21.85.Thiscomesouttoap-proximately$0.07/dose.
Whilethetrialdidn’tshowanydifferencethisyear,Kathyisgoingtofollowthesedoesintoproductionandseeifdifferencesemerge.Sheplanstocontinuetheprojectforseveralmoresea-sons,hopefullyalsomakingciderherselforwithJoanne’shelp.
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Effects of ACV supplementation on Rose farm
Variable Value Starting weight (lb)
Ending weight (lb) Gain (lb) ADG
(lb/d)
Treatmentcontrol 33.5 53.8 20.3 0.13ACV 36.9 57.8 20.9 0.14
Breed
Boer 35.8 58.3 22.5 0.15Lamancha 33.8 54.5 20.7 0.13Sable 36.5 55.5 19.0 0.13Nubian 34.7 55.0 20.3 0.13
Overall 35.1 55.9 20.8 0.14
Table 4
Effects of ACV supplementation on Peters farm
Group Treatment Starting weight (lb)
Ending weight (lb) Gain (lb) ADG (lb/d)
Buckscontrol 118.0 150.0 32.0 0.28ACV 175.0 160.0 -15.0 -0.11
Does(all)control 91.7 123.3 31.7 0.22ACV 94.1 134.1 40.0 0.28
Doelingscontrol n/a n/a n/a n/aACV 80.3 123.0 42.7 0.30
Yearlingscontrol 91.7 123.3 31.7 0.22ACV 88.4 120.4 32.0 0.23
Maturecontrol n/a n/a n/a n/aACV 111.5 159.5 48.0 0.34
Table 5
Joanne Peters
Joannedidnotdoseheranimalsdirectly,butincludedACVintheirdrinkingwater,fromJunethroughSeptember(whenshewasunabletofindaconsistentsupplyofACV).AnimalswereweighedinJuneandinNovember,andgainswerecompared.
Twoanimalswereexcludedfromanalysisbecauseincompletedatawasavailable(twomaturedoes).Itshouldalsobenotedthattherewereonlytwobucks,oneineachtreatment;thetreatedbuckwasbreedingdoesduringthecourseofthetrial,whichisthelikelycauseofhisweightloss.TherewereneitherdoelingsnormaturedoesinthenoACVtreatment,sonoresultsareavailable.
ThedatadidshowthatoveralltreatmentwithACVdidnotsignificantlyaffectanyofthemeasuredparameters(Table 5).Be-causeofthelimitednumbersofbucksandbecauseonegainedandonelostweight,thisconfoundedresultssothereappeartobefewdifferencesbetweenbucksanddoes.Twodoelings(treatedwithACV)werediagnosedwithpneumoniainAugust;theygainedlessweightthandidtheotherdoelingofthesameage,butthisdidnotaffectresultsoverall.
Followingtheseanimalsintothenextyearandintoproductionshouldyieldmoreresults.Joannewillbecontinuingthetrial,andhopestoworkwithKathytoproduceACVtoprovideamoreconsistentsupply.
Conclusions and Next StepsWhilenoneofthefarmersreportedstrikingincreasesinhealthandnovastadvantagesingainwereobservedaftersupplementingwithACV,somebenefitswereobserved.Kathynotedthatitisquiteinexpensivetopurchase,butalsolooksrelativelysimpletoproduce.Shelikedthatitkilledalgaewhenusedinwatertubs,andsaidthatdrenchingtheanimalsgotthemaccus-tomedtobeinghandled,sothattheyarenowallquitetameandlead-broke.Allproducersinvolvedinthistrialwilltrackthebreddoesintothespring,whenthegenderoftheiroffspringwillberecorded.Theyalsowishtorepeatthetrialagain,togetmorereplicates
Acres USA. (link and article temporarily removed for site renovation) http://www.acre-susa.com/toolbox/press/goat10.htm
Johnston, C. S., and C. A. Gaas. 2006. Vinegar: Medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect. Med-scape General Medicine 8:61.
Kondo, S., K. Tayama, Y. Tsukamoto, K. Ikeda, and Y. Yamori. 2001. Antihypertensive effects of acetic acid and vinegar on spontaneously hypersensitive rats. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 65:2690-2694.
Welcome Home Farm. 8 Aug 2011. Time for apple cider vinegar. http://welcomehomefarm-tj.blogspot.com/2011/08/time-for-apple-cider-vinegar.html?m=1
Mercola, J. 2 June 2009. What the research really says about apple cider vinegar. Mercola.com. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/06/02/apple-cider-vinegar-hype.aspx
The Goat Spot. 2009. Apple cider vinegar? TheGoatSpot.net. http://www.thegoatspot.net/forum/f217/apple-cider-vinegar-111681/
Marinez, D. I., C. A. Ricks, and R. M. Cook. 1976. Utilization of volatile fatty acids in ruminants. 8. Acetate activation in mammary tissue. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 24:927-935.
Pratt, N. C., U. W. Huck, and R. D. Lisk. 1987. Offspring sex ratio in hamsters is correlated with vaginal pH at certain times of mating. Behavioral and Neural Biology 48:310-316.
Winter, W. August 2012. Folk medicine for livestock – Apple cider vinegar stories. Stock-man Grassfarmer. http://wickslivestock.com/articles-folk-medicine-for-livestock
References
PFI Cooperators ProgramPFI’sCooperators’Programgivesfarm-erspracticalanswerstoquestionstheyhaveabouton-farmchallengesthroughresearch,record-keeping,anddemonstra-tionprojects.TheCooperators’Programbeganin1987withfarmerslookingtosavemoneythroughmorejudicioususeofinputs.
