A snake is “milked” for its venom – and yes, milking snakes is someone’s job.
A small amount of snake venom, not enough to be deadly, is then injected into a large animal – usually a horse, but sheep and llamas are also used. The animal will be given a series of injections, with the amount of venom usually increasing each time until the horse becomes hyper-immunised, meaning its immune system is pumping out as many antibodies as possible. Why are horses used to make antivenoms? Horses have strong immune systems that respond to the snake venom by making antibodies. The antibody-packed blood is then drawn from the horse and the plasma, which holds the antibodies, is separated from other parts of the blood, like blood cells. (The rest of the blood is returned to the horse so that it doesn’t become anaemic.) The plasma is then purified and developed into an antivenom. Polyvalent antivenoms contain a cocktail of different antibodies, some of which neutralise the venom or venoms it is intended to treat. Scientists are trying to develop antivenoms that could be made in a lab and without the need to use horses. But for now the bulk of antivenom supply is made using animals. Why does it matter where the snake comes from? Snake venom varies from species to species, and within the same species – so venom from a snake in one country can be very different to the venom of a snake of the same species in a different country. Diet, local environment, stress and genetics all influence the venom a snake produces. Researchers have even found differences between the venom of baby snakes and adult snakes of the same species. The new snake oil: antivenoms that are as useless as water In sub-Saharan Africa patients face a “Wild West” where treatments for snake bites cost the earth or don’t work So, because antivenom is made using the venom of specific snakes, an antivenom that’s made to treat a snake from one country can be useless in the treatment of a snake from another area or of a different species – something research has demonstrated time and again (including the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ)’s own research). What else affects how well antivenoms work? The snake isn’t the only variable – there’s the horse (or sheep, or llama) too. The health of the horse, its diet and how it is kept can all affect how it responds to the venom and thus how useful its antibodies are for making an antivenom. If a horse has a cold, the antibodies it develops in response to that cold will be included in the plasma drawn from it. In 2016, inspections authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India found thousands of horses were being kept in terrible conditions across several facilities, including ones used by the some of manufacturers in TBIJ’s investigation. The last living variable is, of course, the person that receives the antivenom. The human body doesn’t necessarily like having foreign matter injected into it. Antivenoms have been known to trigger such a strong allergic response that patients are unable to be treated any further. KR SO EVEN HORSE WILL DIE AS HUMAN. BUT HORSE ILAMA SHEEP ETC QUICKLY DEVELOP ANTI-BODIES WHICH IS MADE USE OF; BUT MAIN DOSE IS ONLY POISON FROM SNAKE MILKED. K RAJARAM IRS 12326 On Wed, 11 Mar 2026 at 21:00, 'gopala krishnan' via KeralaIyers < [email protected]> wrote: > I read in Google search snakes will die due to snake bite a few months ago. > You may check Mr Sekar > RGK > > Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer > <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail&listing=search_organize_conquer> > > On Wed, 11 Mar 2026 at 20:14, 'N Sekar' via KeralaIyers > <[email protected]> wrote: > *Do you know how anti snake bite injection is manufactured in India > Hyderabad by Wins Biotech Pvt Ltd !!* > *The Company has a huge Horse Growing & Breeding Centre, with quality > control & quality assurance.* > > *The most venomous snake in the world can kill even an elephant—but one > animal survives: the horse!* > > *No matter how deadly the snake—even the fearsome King Cobra—a horse > doesn’t die from its bite.* > > *After being bitten, the horse may fall slightly ill for about three days. > But then, it recovers completely, as if nothing ever happened.* > > *This is one of nature’s most incredible wonders.* > > *And hidden within this very creature lies a life-saving secret for > humans—Anti-venom vaccine.* > > *But how is this anti-venom vaccine made?* > > - *First, venom is collected from snakes.* > - *Then, a small amount is injected into a horse.* > - *The horse’s immune system responds and produces antibodies to > neutralize the venom.* > - *After 2–3 days, these antibodies are present in the horse’s blood.* > - *Blood is then drawn from the horse, and red blood cells are removed.* > > *The plasma (the white portion) is processed to create anti-venom.* > > *This anti-venom is then injected into humans who have been bitten by > snakes, to save their lives.* > > *In India alone, there are numerous anti-venom manufacturing facilities > where hundreds of horses are cared for to produce this life-saving serum.* > > *Thanks to this gentle creature, we are protected from some of the > deadliest poisons on planet earth.* > > *Without horses, many lives would be lost from a single snakebite.* > > *This is yet another sign of the profound mystery, mercy and scheme of > things of Mother Nature.* > > *Every element of nature is a reflection of Divine Grace.* > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer > <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail&listing=search_organize_conquer> > > -- > On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust > > We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join > > Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup > > Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust > > Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: > https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "KeralaIyers" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/730987013.1696377.1773240262368%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/730987013.1696377.1773240262368%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust > > We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join > > Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup > > Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust > > Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: > https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "KeralaIyers" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/59270728.4430718.1773242989095%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/59270728.4430718.1773242989095%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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