Cows' udders, exposed to drying wind and cold, can benefit from application of essential oils.
Essential oils are natural plant oils that have been extracted from the leaves and stems through distillation or maceration (soaking the plant in olive oil, for example, to infuse the oil with the plant's chemicals). They have been used to treat various human skin ailments for centuries, and some also can be used to treat animal skin. Dairy animals can benefit from application of essential oils to their udders to prevent or remedy many problems.
Instructions
1. Mix an essential oil with a carrier oil. Essential oils can be relatively expensive and applying some of them full strength to your cow's or goat's udders may prove costly. A carrier oil is a neutral oil that can disperse the essential oil's properties to the skin. Unscented jojoba oil is a good choice as a carrier oil and can be found at most health food stores or online. The carrier oil/essential oil ratio will change depending upon the condition being treated.
2. Heal dry skin with lavender oil. Lavender oil is a good choice if your milk animal has dry or chapped udder skin. Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon essential oil to 8 oz. of carrier oil before use. Rub the oil into the udder flesh once or twice a day until the condition improves.
3. Relieve insect-bite discomfort with direct application of tea tree oil. The chances of your cow or goat's udder being bitten by an insect in the summer months are great. To relieve itching and help heal the bite, dab tea tree oil directly onto the bite; a carrier oil is not needed.
4. Soothe bruising. It is possible, especially as they grow older, for dairy animals to step on or otherwise bruise their own teats. If you see a bruise on a cow's udder, soak an old wash cloth in cold water, add two to five drops of lavender oil and gently press the cloth on the bruise for at least 10 minutes. This will reduce swelling.
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