Herbal Feed Supplement for Sustained Milk Ejection in Dairy Cattle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Milch animals face challenges with milk ejection due to stress and lack of effective alternatives to oxytocin injection, which has undesirable side effects and short duration of action, leading to reduced milk production and potential health issues.
Innovation Solution
A herbal composition comprising extracts or bioactive fractions from herbs like Asparagus, Gossypium, Foeniculum, Lepidium, Chlorophytum, Ipomoea, and Withania, optionally with dicalcium phosphate, dolomite, or chelated minerals, which acts on the central nervous system to facilitate smooth milk ejection and increase blood circulation, reducing stress and infection risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If oxytocin injection is used to facilitate milk ejection, then milk letting down is improved, but side effects and short duration of action occur leading to reduced milk production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the short-acting oxytocin injection with a herbal composition that provides sustained effect. The composition includes herbs like Asparagus racemosus, Chlorophytum borivilianum, and Withania somnifera which work synergistically to maintain milk ejection reflex throughout the milking period without the need for repeated injections, thus eliminating side effects while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mode of administration from parenteral (injection) to oral (feed supplement), and changes the active agents from synthetic hormone (oxytocin) to natural herbal compounds. This parameter change transforms the short-duration, high-intensity effect of oxytocin into a sustained, gradual effect that maintains milk production throughout the milking period without adverse effects.
2Reliability
If suckling is used to stimulate milk letting down, then oxytocin release is improved, but management becomes complicated especially with machine milking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a herbal composition as an intermediary substance that mediates the milk ejection process. Instead of requiring direct physical stimulation (suckling) or chemical injection (oxytocin), the herbal feed supplement acts as a mediator that triggers and sustains oxytocin release through oral administration, simplifying management while maintaining reliable milk letting down.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of suckling (physical stimulation) with a chemical/biological system (herbal composition). The herbal feed supplement substitutes the need for mechanical calf suckling or manual udder massage, providing a non-invasive, easy-to-administer alternative that works seamlessly with machine milking systems.
3Speed
If oxytocin injection is used for milk ejection, then immediate effect is achieved, but the effect duration is short requiring multiple injections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by formulating a herbal composition that maintains milk ejection reflex throughout the entire milking period. The synergistic combination of herbs provides sustained oxytocin release and maintains udder blood circulation continuously, eliminating the need for multiple injections and ensuring uninterrupted milk flow from start to end of milking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by administering the herbal feed supplement before milking begins. The composition starts working in advance to prepare the animal's system for optimal milk ejection, ensuring that the milk letting down reflex is fully established before the milking process starts and continues throughout, rather than requiring intervention during milking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The herbal composition effectively increases milk production, reduces milk resurge time, and minimizes side effects, providing a longer-lasting solution for milk ejection without the drawbacks of oxytocin injection, while being cost-effective and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
Milk ejection is a neurohormonal reflex associated with the release of oxytocin. Milk ejection reflex has a neural (afferent) and a hormonal (efferent) component.
Implementation Method 2
Physical stimulation of the teats, either by the calf's suckling or the milkers hands, excite receptors from which nerve impulses are send to the posterior pituitary gland causing secretion of the hormone oxytocin.
Implementation Method 3
The herbal composition increases the blood circulation in the udder which reduces the chances of occurrence of infections such as Mastitis, udder, oedema etc.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns herbal compositions which improve lactation of farmed livestock comprising an effective amount of an extract and/or at least one bioactive fraction or powder from herbs such as Asparagus, Gossypium, Foeniculum, Lepidium, Chlorophytum, Ipomoea, Withania, Leptadenia and optionally dicalcium phosphate, chelated minerals and/or mineral mixture.