Reducing Antibiotic Use in Livestock: The Potential of Homeopathy in Combating AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance)
Navya Kunder*, Varun Asediya
M.B Veterinary College, Dungarpur, Rajasthan, 314001.
*Corresponding author: navyakunder44012@gmail.com
Abstract
The growing urgency to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock has accelerated the search for non-antibiotic, residue-free interventions. This study critically evaluates veterinary homeopathy as a dual-function strategy, preventive and therapeutic with potential to reduce antibiotic dependency in Indian animal production systems. Drawing from field-level evidence across dairy, poultry, and ruminant sectors, we examine improvements in disease recovery, cost efficiency, and product integrity without withdrawal periods or chemical residues. Homeopathy’s group-level applicability, innovations such as farm-specific nosodes, and its compatibility with organic certification frameworks are highlighted. Barriers to mainstream adoption are addressed, including limited randomized controlled trials, academic skepticism, and a fragmented practitioner base. To overcome these, the paper proposes policy integration through national schemes, AI-based outcome monitoring, and education reform to position homeopathy within scientific and institutional frameworks. The conclusion outlines a forward-looking scenario for 2030, envisioning India as a global leader in post-antibiotic animal health, where traditional modalities, empowered by digital tools and data, drive ecologically sustainable veterinary care.
Keywords
Antimicrobial resistance; Veterinary homeopathy; One Health; Sustainable livestock farming; Antibiotic alternatives; Policy innovation; Holistic veterinary care, AI in health.
- Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global health concern, intensified by the prolonged and indiscriminate use of antibiotics across human and veterinary domains(Tang et al., 2023). In India’s livestock industry, the habitual administration of antimicrobial agents routinely employed as metaphylactic treatments, performance enhancers, or empirical therapeutics has significantly accelerated the development and spread of resistant bacterial strains in food-producing animals (Taneja & Sharma, 2019).
This prevalent, frequently unsupervised practice often implemented without etiological confirmation or prescription compliance exemplifies a systemic dependence on antimicrobial inputs (Manyi-Loh et al., 2018). Such continuous, non-targeted exposure drives selective pressure on microbial populations, thereby reducing antimicrobial efficacy and contributing to the emergence of treatment-refractory infections (Hedman et al., 2020).
The consequences of AMR extend well beyond the farm. Resistant microorganisms and residual antimicrobials disseminate through animal-derived products, excreta, and contaminated effluents, facilitating gene exchange, ecological disruption, and the risk of zoonotic transmission (Manyi-Loh et al., 2018). These interspecies and environmental interfaces underscore the urgency of a One Health approach, which recognizes the biological interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. While India’s National Action Plan on AMR outlines strategic interventions, including stewardship, surveillance, and public education, it falls short in advancing validated, scalable alternatives to antibiotics within veterinary systems (Ranjalkar & Chandy, 2019). In the absence of viable substitutes, antimicrobial reduction strategies remain incomplete and prone to relapse under field conditions.
Veterinary homeopathy, despite its limited integration into conventional frameworks, warrants rigorous scientific evaluation. As a non-pharmacological, residue-free, and potentially immunomodulatory modality, homeopathy presents a plausible adjunct or alternative for reducing antimicrobial dependency, particularly in the management of chronic or non-life-threatening conditions (Bellavite et al., 2006; Mathie & Clausen, 2015).
- A Farm Full of Antibiotics: How Did We Get Here?
The integration of antibiotics into routine livestock management in India is the result of long-standing structural dependencies, not isolated clinical decisions. Over several decades, antimicrobial agents have transitioned from pathogen-specific interventions to generalized tools of disease prevention and productivity enhancement. This transformation reflects systemic gaps in veterinary infrastructure, regulatory enforcement, and evidence-based clinical practice. In many regions, veterinary-to-animal ratios remain critically low, and diagnostic laboratories are either inaccessible or underutilized. In such environments, antibiotics are often administered empirically, without confirmatory diagnostics, dosage optimization, or risk–benefit analysis. This empirical approach is reinforced by the unregulated availability of veterinary antimicrobials, including those categorized by the World Health Organization as critically important for human medicine (Bhatia & Walia, 2017; Caneschi et al., 2023).
Pharmaceutical industry practices further exacerbate this dynamic. Aggressive marketing, sales-driven distribution models, and incentive-linked prescribing contribute to a culture of antimicrobial commodification. Field-level promotion of prophylactic use, often lacking scientific justification, has normalized antibiotics as a routine input rather than a controlled therapeutic resource. This dynamic is particularly problematic in low-margin production systems where disease outbreaks carry high financial risk, and preventive chemoprophylaxis is perceived as an economic safeguard.
- AMR: The Invisible Pandemic at the Animal–Human–Soil Interface
Defined by its ability to traverse species barriers, ecological domains, and geographic regions, AMR epitomizes the complexity of a One Health crisis, where interventions confined to singular sectors are structurally inadequate. In livestock systems, resistant determinants are not confined to treated animals. Resistance genes, often plasmid-encoded, can persist within commensal microbiota, surviving excretion and entering environmental matrices. Manure, slurry, and runoff contaminated with antimicrobial residues and resistant organisms act as continuous sources of gene exchange within soil and aquatic microbiomes. Even in the absence of ongoing antibiotic application, selective pressure may persist due to environmental co-contaminants such as heavy metals, biocides, or nutrient overload, further stabilizing resistance in microbial communities.
Equally concerning is the interface between food production systems and human exposure pathways. Resistant organisms may colonize processing equipment, persist in cold chains, or contaminate raw animal products. Occupational exposure among farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and handlers further expands the circle of risk, often in populations with limited access to diagnostics or post-exposure care.
Despite the theoretical adoption of One Health frameworks, operational disconnects remain pervasive. Surveillance systems across the human, animal, and environmental sectors function in silos, using non-harmonized methodologies, inconsistent data standards, and fragmented reporting protocols. Regulatory authorities often operate with overlapping mandates but limited coordination, resulting in poor accountability and inefficient resource allocation.
India’s national programs reflect this fragmentation. Environmental AMR surveillance is still non-mandatory, with little integration of water, soil, and effluent testing in resistance mapping. In effect, the ecological drivers of resistance are excluded from the risk modeling that informs policy decisions.
- Homeopathy in Veterinary Medicine: Forgotten Tool or Future Hero?
Homeopathy is conceptually aligned with dose–response phenomena recognized in fields such as toxicology, endocrinology, and immunomodulation. While its ultra-dilute preparations fall outside typical receptor-binding paradigms, they may exert systemic effects through molecular signalling amplification, epigenetic modulation, or alterations in intercellular communication pathways (Bell & Koithan, 2012).
The generalized dismissal of homeopathy on the basis of placebo equivalence is scientifically unsound in veterinary contexts. Placebo mechanisms rely on cognitive anticipation and conditioned response, neither of which is demonstrable in non-verbal, non-expectant species. Furthermore, controlled studies involving blinded administration to livestock have documented statistically significant differences in morbidity, physiological biomarkers, and performance indices compared to untreated controls. These observations, while requiring broader replication, merit scientific exploration rather than categorical rejection.
Dr. R.K. Goel’s contributions exemplify the adaptation of such modalities within real-world veterinary frameworks. His protocols, derived through iterative field validation rather than abstract theorizing, addressed high-incidence livestock diseases using residue-free, non-suppressive regimens. These interventions were deployed in economically constrained environments lacking consistent pharmaceutical access or diagnostic infrastructure.
- Scientific Evidence: Stories from the Field and Lab
In a study conducted by Varshney and Naresh, 96 mastitic quarters in Indian dairy cows were treated with a homeopathic combination medicine containing Phytolacca, Calcarea fluorica, Silicea, Belladonna, Bryonia, Arnica, Conium, and Ipecacuanha. The treatment demonstrated an overall effectiveness of 86.6%, with a mean recovery period of 7.7 days. The total cost of therapy was reported as Indian Rupees 21.4 (approximately €0.39 or US$0.47). In comparison, a corresponding group treated with antibiotics showed a cure rate of 59.2%, a mean recovery period of 4.5 days, and an average treatment cost of Rs.149.20 (approximately €2.69 or US$3.28). The authors concluded that the homeopathic combination was effective and economical in managing mastitis in lactating dairy cows (Varshney & Naresh, 2005).
In another study the integration of homeopathy into mastitis management protocols resulted in a 75% reduction in antibiotic usage. This approach not only decreased the reliance on antibiotics but also led to an extrapolated reduction of 25,000 kg in milk loss due to withdrawal and 13,100 kg of contaminated milk during treatment time per year for the herd. The study highlighted that the limited and controlled use of antibiotics, combined with homeopathic treatments and enhanced environmental conditions, can effectively manage mastitis while significantly reducing antibiotic input (Zeise & Fritz, 2019).
Khan et al., 2024 explored the use of homeopathy in managing FMD-related foot lesions, highlighting remedies like Rhus toxicodendron, Arnica montana, and Calendula officinalis for their symptom-relieving potential. The study emphasized the need for personalized application and further validation to confirm efficacy and safety. Supporting this, Chand et al., (2017) demonstrated that a homeopathic protocol involving Kalium iodatum, Calendula, and Sulphur was effective in reducing fever and improving appetite in FMD-affected cattle, showing comparable outcomes to conventional treatments. Additionally, (Lotfollahzadeh et al., 2012) reported significantly improved clinical recovery in cattle treated with Tarentula cubensis extract (Theranekron®), with faster normalization of rectal temperature and mucosal healing than untreated controls.
Homeopathic prophylaxis aims to strengthen host defences before clinical signs emerge. Remedies like Silicea, Echinacea, and nosode-based protocols have been used pre-emptively in dairy and poultry systems, lowering morbidity rates during seasonal outbreaks. These interventions enhance immune readiness, particularly in smallholder and semi-intensive setups where vaccine access is limited or serotype mismatch persists.
- Why It Matters: Economic, Ethical, and Ecological Wins for Farmers
Veterinary homeopathy delivers tangible value where it matters most at the level of the farmer. Economically, its affordability is unmatched. Treatments typically cost less than ₹50 per case and eliminate the need for withdrawal periods, preventing the loss of marketable milk or meat. This ensures uninterrupted revenue, especially critical for small and marginal farmers operating on tight margins (Viksveen et al., 2014).
Environmentally, the absence of synthetic compounds contributes to a lower chemical footprint in livestock production. Homeopathic treatments leave no residues in manure or wastewater, mitigating the ecological impact associated with intensive animal farming and supporting climate-resilient, regenerative practices.
Perhaps most profoundly, homeopathy offers a sense of autonomy. For farmers, especially in underserved or remote areas, it reduces dependency on pharmaceutical supply chains and high-cost interventions.
- A Policy Gap and a Golden Opportunity
Despite emerging evidence of clinical efficacy, economic value, and ecological safety, veterinary homeopathy remains underrepresented in India’s national livestock health strategies. This absence reflects not a failure of merit, but a lag in institutional recognition, a policy gap that now presents a rare opportunity for transformative integration.
Current frameworks such as the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LHDC) Scheme and National Dairy Plan II focus almost exclusively on vaccination, deworming, and conventional therapeutics. Likewise, organic farming and FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) guidelines promote chemical-free agriculture but lack a parallel animal health component. As a result, there is no structured pathway for incorporating homeopathy into either public livestock services or certified organic systems, despite its clear alignment with both.
To bridge this, the government could initiate targeted pilot programs under existing schemes, deploying homeopathy in high-priority disease zones through state veterinary departments and cooperative networks. Disease clusters such as subclinical mastitis in peri-urban dairies or recurrent enteric disorders in commercial poultry units offer viable starting points for demonstration-based validation.
These pilots should be accompanied by digital monitoring infrastructure, leveraging AI-based tracking tools to document symptom progression, treatment response, relapse rates, and economic outcomes. Mobile-integrated dashboards could enable veterinary officers and policymakers to access real-time impact analytics, building an adaptive, evidence-led policy foundation (Mathie et al., 2012).
To operationalize this shift, a structured policy brief should be developed for key stakeholders, DAHD, MOFPI, NITI Aayog, and State Animal Husbandry Departments. This brief must articulate the regulatory rationale, implementation blueprint, and projected returns on investment, framed within the National Action Plan on AMR, the One Health framework, and India’s broader sustainable agriculture goals.
- Scientific and Social Challenges: Why It Isn’t Mainstream (Yet)
The foremost limitation is the absence of large-scale, as illustrated in Table 1, double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the gold standard for scientific validation. While a body of observational data and practitioner-led studies continues to grow, most remain unpublished, unstandardized, or outside the scope of indexed literature. This restricts their utility in policy, curriculum, and evidence-based veterinary frameworks (Mathie et al., 2012).
Compounding this is the entrenched perception within academic institutions that homeopathy lacks scientific rigor, a view rooted in epistemological conservatism rather than active engagement with evolving data. As a result, veterinary curricula often omit meaningful exploration of alternative therapeutics, limiting exposure for future practitioners.
The practitioner landscape itself is fragmented, with inconsistent training standards, non-uniform remedy protocols, and limited platforms for knowledge exchange. This decentralization makes collective representation and formal integration into public programs difficult.
- Vision 2030: Replacing Antibiotics with Intelligence and Intuition
By 2030, veterinary health systems must evolve toward zero-residue, microbiome-conscious, and ecologically neutral therapies. In this transformation, homeopathy has the potential to move from the periphery to the core of integrative veterinary care.
Imagine a future where AI-driven diagnostic tools guide veterinarians to select individualized homeopathic protocols based on species, symptoms, and environmental cues, creating farm-specific, real-time treatment paths with no pharmacological footprint. Where digital dashboards track recovery metrics, flag anomalies, and feed into national disease surveillance systems. And where India leads the global shift toward post-antibiotic animal health, combining ancient knowledge systems with frontier technology.
This is not speculative fiction. The science, infrastructure, and practitioner base are already in motion. What is needed now is vision, trust, and institutional foresight. India stands uniquely positioned to define this transition. With its deep-rooted tradition in natural medicine, rapidly expanding digital agriculture infrastructure, and a massive livestock economy, it can model an evidence-led path that marries efficacy with ethics, precision with sustainability.
The world is searching for ways to heal animals without harming ecosystems.
India can show how.
Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely acknowledge M.B. Veterinary College, Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India, for providing institutional support and the necessary facilities that enabled the preparation of this manuscript. We are also deeply grateful to Dr. V.K. Sharma, Dean of M.B. Veterinary College, for his valuable encouragement and consistent administrative support throughout the course of this work.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests related to the content of this manuscript.
Author Contributions
N.K.: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft preparation, Visualization.
V.A.: Formal analysis, Writing – review and editing, Visualization, Supervision.
Table 1. Systemic Barriers to Veterinary Homeopathy Integration and Strategic Policy Interventions
| Barrier | Technical Constraint | Institutional Consequence | Strategic Solution | Reference |
| Incompatibility with Conventional RCT Designs | Homeopathy’s individualized treatment approach conflicts with standardized RCT methodologies. | Results in exclusion from mainstream evidence hierarchies, limiting academic and clinical acceptance. | Employ pragmatic trial designs and n-of-1 trials to better assess homeopathic treatments. | (Oberbaum et al., 2024; Ulbrich-Zürni et al., 2018) |
| Absence of Pharmacovigilance Systems for Veterinary Homeopathy | No formal mechanisms to monitor adverse effects of veterinary homeopathic treatments. | Potential safety concerns remain unaddressed, affecting credibility and trust. | Establish a dedicated pharmacovigilance system within existing frameworks like PvPI. | (Kayne, 2021; Pan et al., 2022) |
| Fragmented Oversight Between AYUSH and DAHD | Regulatory and operational responsibilities are split between AYUSH and DAHD without clear coordination. | Leads to policy gaps and inefficiencies in promoting veterinary homeopathy. | Form a Joint Task Force under NITI Aayog to harmonize efforts and policies. | (Datta et al., 2011; Patwardhan & Mashelkar, 2009) |
| Exclusion from AMR Surveillance Systems | Current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance does not account for homeopathic interventions. | Misses opportunities to evaluate and promote homeopathy’s role in combating AMR. | Integrate homeopathy data into i-AMRSS and related surveillance platforms. | (Kaur et al., 2022; Viksveen, 2003) |
Graphical Abstract
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