Homeopathic remedies in a semi-intensive alternative system of broiler production Medicamentos homeop ticos en un sistema alternativo semi-intensivo de producci 3n de pollos Medicamentos homeop ticos em um sistema alternativo de produ § ￡o de frangos.

This experiment had the objective of evaluating the influence of homeopathic remedies on the performance and health of broilers in a semi-intensive alternative system of production. Two groups of 90 Cobb strain broilers were randomly allocated, at 21 days of life, to three treatments: Control, Calcarea carbonica 12cH and Calcarea phosphorica 12cH, in a randomized block design in two stages. The medication was administered in the birds' drinking water with a 5% hydro-alcohol extract solution in 5 drops per bird daily during 28 days, beginning at 22 days of age. Each stage comprised three blocks, totalizing six replications per treatment. Each treatment group consisted of 10 broilers. Birds were weighed at 21 days and weekly thereon, up to slaughter at 49 days. After slaughtering, carcasses, hearts, livers, gizzards and feet were also weighed. Differences among stages in weight gain (Stage 1 = 2,576 ± 38 g; Stage 2 = 2,825 ± 38 g; P < 0,0004) and in final weight (Stage 1 = 3,470 ± 38 g, Stage 2 = 3,348 ± 40 g; P < 0.03) were noted. There were no differences between stages or treatments for the variables of carcass, feet and gizzard weights (P > 0.40). The liver and heart, however, weighed significantly more in stage 2 (P < 0.01), which may be interpreted as an indicator of greater metabolic activity of these organs coincident with greater weight gain within the same period. When compared to the other two treatments, liver weight proved lower (P < 0.05) in the Calcarea carbonica treatment group, as expected and in accordance to reports of the materia medica of this medicine. In conclusion, there was no effect of homeopathy applied for the purpose of growth. Lower liver weights of the Calcarea carbonica-treated birds may be associated to a lower susceptibility to stress. This possibility, however, calls for new studies for verification. Keywords: Homeopathy, Poultry production, Agroecology. Medicamentos homeop ticos em um sistema alternativo de produ § ￡o de frangos. Resumo Este estudo objetivou avaliar a influ ancia de medicamentos homeop ticos no desempenho e sa ode de frangos, em um sistema alternativo semi-intensivo de produ § ￡o. Dois grupos de 90 frangos Cobb foram randomicamente distribu -dos, aos 21 dias de vida, entre 3 diferentes tratamentos: controle, Calc rea carbonica 12cH y Calcarea phosphorica 12 ch, em 2 fases. A medica § ￡o foi administrada usando-se uma solu § ￡o hidroalco 3lica ( gua pot vel) 5%, numa raz ￡o de 5 gotas por animal, diariamente durante 28 dias, come §ando aos 22 dia