[Pomme homme]

Does anyone else use cider vinegar, in their sheep's drinking water, as a homeopathic 'tonic'? A friend recommended it to me as being good for their health generally and also as being a useful adjunct for worming (I still use a proprietary wormer at the recommended intervals). I add 100 ml of cider vinegar per day to their water trough (the capacity of which is probably about 50 litres), when I refresh it, and rather than the sheep drinking less (on the basis that it might make the water taste 'sour') they seem to be drinking more (so I'm assuming that they find it not unpleasant). The cider I use is unpasteurised, it being one of the barrels of my home produced cider, with a 'mother' added to it, that reluctantly I ceded to the sheep at my wife's request. Does anyone else do likewise? If so, have they noticed any results from or have experiences to relate of its use? 

[PK]

I do the same, applying the same reasoning as is frequently cited for hens. There does not appear to have been any ill-effects. An added benefit is that it seems to prevent the growth of algae in the water trough.

[Hellybee]

Hello, yeah I love it.  We use it to wash things out, like troughs, buckets, I use it in mopping.


We put it in water for sheep and ponies. It has to have the mother in for it have any power.   I get it from the local health shop. 
I also use it s a 1:1 drench with water.

[Pomme homme]

It has to have the mother in for it have any power

I'm not suggesting that I give my sheep cider as opposed to cider vinegar. They can have the latter. I'll have the former! 

[Hellybee]

 

[Fleecewife]

Presumably 'the mother' is what turns cider into vinegar?  What exactly is it?  Or is it something which makes vinegar active in some way?  Never used it but if it keeps algae out of the troughs and drinkers that would be good.  If you use bought vinegar rather than cider do you also have to use the mother stuff?

[Hellybee]

The mother is the must that gives it its healing properties.   it's a good source of vits and minerals and has a good level pectin in it, useful for stomach upsets. It  Must have the Must though!! 


I buy biona ACV couple of litre  at a time, under three quid a bottle.  They always have good supply.

[Jukes Mum]

? so what is "the mother" ?

[kanisha]

Looked up how to make cider vinegar,  apples, sugar  and water the good news? I feed my sheep windfalls I'm presuming they will be getting some vinegar too?

[Hellybee]

Mycoderma aceti.   


From what I understand it normalises Gut pH say in the situation of there being an unstable ph either way allowing the growth of bacteria. The ACV soothes this and brings it back into kilter.  pectin very useful too.

[Pomme homme]

My sheep also get apples, but in the form of the residue left after I've pressed the apples to produce the juice to be fermented into cider. They seem to like it. However I'm careful not to give them too much at any one time because I'm conscious that, as it's not pressed totally dry (sadly I have only a manual, rather than an hydraulic, press), there may be a risk of fermentation in their gut. However they only get the apples in the autumn when I'm making cider. The cider vinegar they get all year round.

I'm told, but I don't know what truth there is in it, that most of the cider vinegar bought in shops is pasteurised and that pasteurised cider vinegar does not have the same beneficial and thereapeutic effects as unpasteurised. However I appreciate that not everyone makes their own cider and thus they may not be able to obtain unpasteurised cider vinegar. Maybe unpasteurised cider vinegar is commercially available, perhaps in some of the health food shops? 

[devonlady]

If anyone in South Devon wants unpasteurised cider vinegar with mother, a friend makes it.