Hailing from a small village in Anantpur district, Pedda Rajanna (58) is a healer expert in treating animal diseases using herbs. He has developed a herbal formulation using a local herb to treat mastitis effectively.

Owning ten acres of land, Pedda Rajanna is primarily an agriculturist. However, the knowledge of the usage of herbs for treating animal diseases has been passed on over generations in his family. He has five members in his family, his wife, son and three daughters. His family members help him in farming as well as in the preparation of herbal formulations and drug administration as well. Though he knows a number of good herbal practices, the practice for the treatment of mastitis needs special mention. This practice was documented during a workshop organized with the support of the District Administration, Anantapur. Pedda Rajanna was felicitated also in the workshop. The data was processed by NIF and plant sample verified. After literature review, it was found that the practice was unique; accordingly a patent (1013/CHE/2011) was filed in the name of Pedda Rajanna for this practice.

Mastitis is an infection of the tissue of the breast that causes pain, swelling, redness, and increased temperature of the breast. The primary cause of mastitis in cattle, goats and sheep are well-recognized groups of microorganisms, Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pasteurella sp. and coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp., and Klebsiella sp. Sometimes due to the infection visibly abnormal milk (eg, color, fibrin clots) is also produced. As the degree of the swelling increases, changes in the udder (swelling, heat, pain, redness) may also be evident. Apart from giving pain to the animal, it also affects the quality and quantity of milk.

The test results of this formulation against bacterial mastitis were very promising. Further work is also going on to refine the technology further and make it more efficient.