Assessing the Presence, Seasonal Dynamicity and Effect of Toxic Plants on Ruminants in <i>Lare</i> and <i>Itang</i> Districts of Gambella Peoples Regional State Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in “ Lare ” and “ Itang ” districts of Gambella People’s regional state, South Western Ethiopia and assessed the presence, seasonal dynamicity and effect of toxic plants on large and small domestic ruminants. A cross sectional type of research was used to survey potential toxic plants for domestic animals from January 2016 to August 2016 with the help of a structured questionnaire format and plant sampling. A total of 255 individuals were interviewed (151 from “ Lare ” and 104 from “ Itang ”), of which 80.4% are males. Both infectious and non-infectious types of diseases challenge the livestock production system in the area (with 65.0%, 30.8%, combination of infectious and non-infectious and infectious diseases alone respectively), despite more than 60.4% said disease is the main livestock rearing obstacle in the areas. About 88.4% said cases of toxic plants mostly occur once per year while, very few of the participants said toxic plants as the problem, that occurs most often and often (8.2%, and 3.4% respectively). Shrubs are main source of plant toxicosis (97.3%). Of the total (146) participants, about 63.0% of them said, they attempt to treat locally/traditionally, while only 32.2% visits modern veterinary service. Among the top mentioned pre-disposing factors that expose animals for plant toxicosis in the study area were, food shortage (43.2%), accidental ingestion with feed (40.4%), nutritional deficiency (6.8%), and excess consumption (4.8%). The most common likely period of the year that plant toxicosis occur in general; beginning of wet season (48.6%), end of rainy season (32.9%), end of the dry season (12.3%) and peak of dry season (2.7%). Cattle, sheep and goats are among the susceptible and can cause various illness and also cause sudden death to them. Among the non-infectious diseases, plant poisonings are one of the non-infectious livestock health problems in the study areas, that resulting huge loss when animals graze in poisonous plant. Some of the identified toxic plants in the area includes Ngiar, Wath (Sorghum arundinaceum), Diir, Magak (Lactuca inermis Forssk), Nyuath and Zom (Ipomoea acquatica Forssk). Other toxic plants identified were Dep gany (Cissus quadrangularis L.), Tach Yaaz (Ipomoae acuatica Forssk) and Hygrophilla schulli (hamilt.) MR. & S. M Almeida species. Proper attention and further toxic plants epidemiological investigations should be conducted for minimizing the direct and indirect loss to the livestock sector in the region.