Evaluation of the use of phytotherapy in the healing process of induced wounds in cattle

• Grant number: 22/16717-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Weber Vilas Bôas Soares
• Grantee: Geovana Menegão de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Within the principles of welfare and the freedoms of animal husbandry, injuries are cited and should be avoided or controlled to ensure the animal's performance. Techniques that help the producer in the healing process should be studied. The phytotherapy being studied and used as a promising alternative. Among the plants of interest, the barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstrigens) stands out due to its powerful healing effect on cutaneous wounds. Thus, the objective of this project is to evaluate the topical use of commercial ointment enriched with barbatimão oil and its effect on the healing process of induced wounds in dairy cattle. Eighteen Holstein heifers will be used and will be divided into three treatments, namely: a) 6 animals will receive topical application of 2 g of healing ointment; b) 6 animals will receive 2 g of healing ointment enriched with 25% Barbatimão oil and c) 6 animals will receive 2 g of healing ointment enriched with 25% larvicide product. Each animal will carry one wound on the right side and one wound on the left side. On the right side, the treatments will be applied daily until the seventh day; on the left side, they will be applied on alternate days until the seventh day. The healing process will be assessed macroscopically with the aid of camera thermography and images for calculation of planimetry of the healing area. Evaluations will occur daily until the 14th day and then once a week thereafter, once a week until 77 days of the induced wound process. At the end it is expected that Barbatimão will improve the healing process in comparison with methods methods routinely used by farmers.