The long-awaited cria has arrived but mom is dry as the Sahara. No milk and you’re forced to whip out the bottle or feed tube. It’s your dreaded nightmare come to life and the prospect of endless days and sleepless nights stretch out before you.
So it’s no surprise that breeders are willing to embrace supplements that will increase the chances that mom will have an overflowing supply of millk for that precious newborn. Of those options, herbal lactation stimulation herbs have received mixed reviews. Some breeders swear by them, others shrug and think they make no difference. Others use them for every expectant dam, others say alfalfa in the last month is just as good. Still others only use them for problem dams, which I guess would put them in the “supporter” column.
Dr. Pollard's Lactation Stimulation herbs
The most well-known herbal milk stimulation product on the market is the one that started it all: Dr. Pollard’s Lactation Stimulation Formula. It can be purchased directly from his website www.llamadocherbs.com for $36 for a 42 oz. bag or in bulk. Newer to the market is Golden Blend Herbal Milk Enhancer which can be purchased direct or through Useful Lama Items.
Although the subjective feedback from breeders can be mixed, ,studies apparently show that these herbal formulas do, indeed, not only increase milk production in dams, but also ease labor and speed post-partum recovery. Better milk production results in faster weight gain by crias and higher weaning weights at six months of age.
In one area, however, breeders do agree. Consistent usage of the lactation stimulation products can be expensive, estimated at $50/dam when used as prescribed. The current recommended dosage is 2 oz (5 fluid oz) once daily starting the month before delivery with an increase to twice daily after delivery for a few days before reducing to once daily for a month or as needed. Although this can be a minimal cost compared to the benefit of healthy cria and dam, you can make your own by buying your herbs in bulk. Here is the recipe that was derived by an herbalist and used by some breeders in my area:
Lactation Formula:
4 oz. basil
4 oz. fennel
4 oz. caraway
4 oz. dill seed
4 oz. anise seed
1 lb. fenugreek
8 oz. red raspberry leaves
Makes 44 oz.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
When looking at the ingredients, you should know that the only milk stimulant in the above is fenugreek. It is, however, not the most palatable of herbs which is the purpose the other herbs serve with one exception: red raspberry leaves. Red raspberry leaves has long been used in tea to treat women for menstrual issues. It is a uterine muscle relaxant and there is some thought that it is not wise to feed it pre-partum because of the possibility of stimulating early delivery. Post-partum, however, it can help in recovery. Golden Blend Herbal Milk Enhancer does not contain raspberry leaves for this reason. However, I have not heard of any breeders reporting this problem with Dr. Pollard’s product.
For bulk herbs:
Mountain Rose Herbs
Bulkfoods.com
HerbalCom
