Ethno-veterinary medicine: A potential alternative to animal health delivery in Wolmera district, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This survey was conducted from December 2016 to March 2017 in Wolmera district of Oromia Region, Ethiopia to document indigenous knowledge of the community on plants used in ethno-veterinary medicine. From a total 80 respondents from eight peasant associations, 48 respondents were selected purposely by the researcher alone while the rest 32 were selected purposely by the help of local elders in the study area. Majority of respondents 63(87.27%) were male and the remained 17 (12.72%) were females. Most of the respondents 55(68.75%) were used plants to treat livestock ailment, and 50 (91%) acquired the knowledge from their parents and elders of blood relationship. Twenty- five medicinal plant species of veterinary importance classified into 22 families were documented. From identified plant families, asteraceae, euphorbiacea, solonaceae and polygonaceae were represented by 2 species each. The remaining (17 families) were represented by single plant species. Leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part (68%) and oral route (80%) was the most common route of administration, whereas concoction (60%) accounted the major form of preparation of herbal remedies. Determination of the dose is done by using different household utensils and also by using their own hand. Anthrax, black leg, ecto and endo parasites, rabies, foot and mouth disease, bloat, and colic were among the fifteen different livestock diseases or syndromes treated by traditional practitioners. Fifty-five out of 80 respondents who participated in this survey have an awareness on ethnoveterinary practice but plant parts used, dose and routes of administration were varies among the traditional practitioners. Therefore, we strongly recommended for detail scientific and pharmacological evaluations (efficacy, safety, mode of delivery and dosage) of the identified plant species in future use.

Keywords: Aliments; Endogenous knowledge; Ethno veterinary; Medicinal plants