Table 1 Status quo of prerequisites for the use of homeopathy present on dairy farms in France, Germany and Spain

Demographic description

 Gender

  Female

7

7

6

  Male

13

13

18

 Age group

  < 26

–

1

–

  26–34

3

6

1

  35–44

2

3

5

  45–54

10

8

12

  55–64

5

2

6

 Member of organic farmers association

  Yes

17

16

7

  No

3

4

17

 Number of cows

  Min

30

26

11

  Median

58

75

30

  Max

130

1000

55

  Quartile Q1

44.5

49.5

27.0

  Quartile Q3

75.5

81.0

46.5

 Milk records available

  Yes

15

20

23

  No

6

–

9

Basic training in homeopathy

 Duration of using homeopathy (years)

  < 1

1

–

–

  1 to 5

4

2

15

  5 to 10

6

6

4

  More than 10

9

12

5

 Basic training courses in homeopathy

  No specific training course

1

3

21

  Part time: totalling 1–2 days

–

7

1

  Part time: totalling > 2 days

–

1

1

  Full time: 1 day–1 week

19

9

1

  Full time: 1 week–1 month

  Full time: > 1 month

 Supervisor of training course

  Veterinarian

19

8

3

  Professor of a university

–

–

–

  Professional consultant/Advisors

–

–

–

  Members of a homeopathic organisation

–

–

–

  Other homeopaths/“Tierheilpraktiker”

–

9

–

Anamnesis

 Availability of historic health records

  No information exists

–

–

19

  From memory

6

14

19

  From health ledger papers/cow files

16

8

3

  From herd management software

5

5

1

 Duration of animal observation (min)

  1–10

12

2

2

  11–20

7

6

–

  21–30

1

4

2

  31–40

–

–

2

  > 40

–

8

18

  Combined with other activities (e.g. milking routine, feeding)

19

15

19

  Not combined with other activities

1

5

1

Clinical examination

 Type of clinical examination

  No clinical examination

2

1

–

  Homeopathic clinical examination

8

9

17

  Use of approved Indication (looking for leading symptoms)

6

6

–

  General clinical examination (similar to allopathic treatment)

2

4

5

  Help from veterinarian

2

–

2

 Taking quarter milk samples

  No

13

10

11

  Yes

7

10

13

   In case of clinical mastitis

    For all animals

0

1

2

    For selected animals

2

2

9

   In case of subclinical mastitis

    For all animals

0

0

0

    For selected animals

3

1

0

   In case of clinical and subclinical mastitis

    For all animals

0

1

1

    For selected animals

2

5

1

Diagnosis

 Consultation of a professional

  Never

16

7

–

  In every case of illness

–

1

18

  Only at selected animals

4

1

–

  Only at specific diseases

–

5

6

  Only if no recovery is foreseeable

–

6

–

Availability of remedies

 Source of homeopathic remedies^a

  Veterinarian

7

6

15

  Pharmacy

19

18

13

  Internet

–

4

–

 Number of homeopathic remedies stored

  Total number of different remedies

40

314

47

  Minimum

3

11

0

  Median

14

55

5

  Maximum

20

218

24

Selection of homeopathic remedies

 Use of reference materials^a

  Advice of a veterinarian

8

5

24

  Internet

–

3

1

  Materia medica

7

6

–

  Rely on current knowledge alone

2

5

5

  Repertory

7

4

–

  Short manual for homeopathy

11

19

1

  Software

1

1

–

  Other people

4

4

1

Treatment outcome

 Checking treatment outcome by a veterinarian

  Yes

–

4

15

  No

20

16

9

 Checking treatment outcome by farmer

  Yes

20

20

13

  No

–

–

11

 Type of checking treatment outcome by farmer^a

  Pure observation (visual)

20

19

20

  Clinical investigation (e.g. udder palpation, CMT)

11

15

18

  Laboratory investigation

–

3

–

Documentation

 Taking anamnestic records

  Yes

10

6

14

  No

10

14

10

 Taking treatment records

  No

4

12

16

  Yes

16

8

8

  Every time

9

–

2

  Partial documentation

7

8

6