Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Mastitis for Apple Cider Vinegar

5 star (7)		88%
4 star (1)		13%

Anita (South) on 08/30/2015:
5 out of 5 stars

I have one dairy cow. I read in dr Jarvis book, Folk Medicine, about how a daily dose of apple cider vinegar for a dairy cow will prevent mastitis. So as soon as I got my cow, I started her on vinegar. She was pregnant when I got her, and so when she had her calf, she had no problem, easily delivered, which is a side benefit of vinegar. She is now 9 months into milking. She went through the wet spring, when all my friends' cows got mastitis. She hasn't had a hint of mastitis. She hadn't been sick in any way. I cut up high protein hay and mix it with sweet feed for her to eat while she's milking, and I pour some pasturized apple cider vinegar over her feed. I don't measure the vinegar, I just give her a "pour." She loves vinegar, apple and pears. When I am leading her in or out of a gate, if pears are in season, I have one in my hand to give her. Pears and apples have the same nutrients as vinegar, but making them into vinegar makes them shelf stable for use in the wintertime.

Anita (South) on 08/30/2015:
5 out of 5 stars

About the question of whether the vinegar sours the milk the calf is drinking. It would sour it if it were mixed with the milk. I do not mix it with the milk. There are lots of ways to give vinegar to animals. I give it to calves or cows by pouring it over sweet feed or hay. To do this, you really need to be feeding in a hard plastic container. Vinegar will rust metal or soak into wood. It won't hurt the wood, but it will waste the vinegar. You can also put the vinegar in their drinking water, provided the water container isn't metal. It is very easy to get cows, donkeys, etc., to drink vinegar. They love it, and it's good for them.

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Caroline (King Country, New Zealand) on 06/27/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

We come fron a large 900 cow dairy farm and we add the Apple cider vinegar into our dosatron which is then put into the troughs on the farm. We use about 10mls per cow.

We have also found that we have less retainted membranes with calving cows since this has been introduced into our farming proceedures, before calving. You will notice their coats tend to be glossier.

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David (Gloucester, UK) on 04/24/2009:
4 out of 5 stars

I've been feeding ACV to my cows on & off for about 5 years now. I have added to the total mix ration (in a mixer wagon) at the rate of 60ml per head per day but have now reverted to pouring it in the water troughs daily or every other day. We think it is doing some good but still get recurring cases of mastitis in some cows and the odd new case occasionally. I haven't had the courage to stop using antibiotics but have cut back on the amount we used to use. New cases are drenched 100 mls mixed with water 2 x a day - seems to help. Not sure if it is the ACV or the seaweed but their feet are much harder now - so are my toenails since I started taking it!!

Gerry (Cebu, PI) on 12/21/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

I knew a farmer who never used expensive and dangerous penicillin when his cows got mastitis ,as he had orchards near him he gave his cows CV daily as a prevention and it worked well. I used to use Cv allot but now I am going to put some on my tongue and curl it then draw in a deep breath to nebulise it

Gerry (Cebu, PI) on 12/21/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

EC: CV = Cider Vinegar

Chris (Symsonia, Kentucky) on 03/08/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

I am feeding my Cows, Calfs, & Goats ACV. I can really see the difference. I have a calf that doesn't have a mother. We have been bottle feeding it. I have been adding 2 Teaspoons of ACV at each feeding -- the difference between him and my other calf is amazing. I have heard about all kinds of stuff it is good for in cows but buying it in the 32oz bottles from the Health Food Store is getting expensive. Does anyone know where i can buy it larger and cheaper thanks.

Peter (100 Mile, Canada) on 03/05/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

We always had a hobby farm and quite often the milk cows would get mastitis. The vet would come and give her penicillin and after a few days it would clear up. The milk had to be thrown out in the mean time. We tried ACV -- it was an instant cure! Only 1 tbls in the morning with feed. This cure turned out to be just as effective in humans, I feel like a doctor!

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