Those herbal products you use to improve your health could some day be usedto help improve Iowa pork. An estimated 70-percent of Americans use some kind of herbal product to tryand improve their health. Iowa State University animal science professorPalmer Holden says it’s that interest in natural remedies that has spurred astudy of their use as growth supplements for pigs. The study fed the animals echinacea, garlic, peppermint and goldenseal. Hesays they got some response from all but the goldenseal. Holden says part ofthe problem with natural products is getting a pure substance every time.He says there were enough positive results to continue the study with theelimination of the goldenseal. Holden says another benefit of the research could be making the herbalproducts a viable alternative crop for Iowa farmers.Holden says some of the herbal products used in the study were grown inIowa.
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