Documentation of Ethnoveterinary Practices in the CKNP Region, Gilgit-Baltistan

Akber Dad,Raza Ullah,Huma Batool,Iftikhar Ali,Ghulam Raza,Viqar Uddin Ahmad,Abiodun Falodun,Hidayat Hussain

doi:10.5138/09750185.1898

Abstract

Majority of the livestock holders in different areas of Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) region in Gilgit-Baltistan lack the modern veterinary healthcare facilities. The local community mostly depends upon the traditional floral therapeutic veterinary practices for the cure of various livestock diseases. The lack of the ethnoveterinary surveys in the CKNP region results in loss in the scientific documentation of the traditional information and practices about the livestock healthcare.The present study deals with the documentation of the livestock diseases and the ethnoveterinary herbal and non-herbal therapeutic practices by the livestock holders in CKNP region.The study was conducted from March 2012 to March 2013 in the valleys of CKNP region. The ethnoveterinary data was collected through the semi-structured questionnaires and the techniques of interviews and field visits. And the productive interaction provided an enabling background for the successful Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory Rural Appraisal research.Total 156 local community members were interviewed in Thallay, Khaplu, Hushe and Shigar valleys. The survey showed the prevalence of the most common diseases e.g. FMD, intestinal problems etc. Among the 51 medicinal plants, the Asteraceae family exhibited the highest number of genera with the therapeutic species. The parts of the plants that were most frequently used for the therapeutic purposes were the leaves (55%), seed (15%) etc.The present study contributed to the documentation of the medicinal plants used in the ethnoveterinary practices in valleys in CKNP region, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Highlights

The ethno veterinary medicine is a scientific term used for the holistic and interdisciplinary studies of the folk beliefs, traditional information, methods, skills and practices of the people about the livestock healthcare and livestock production found among the local community [1,2]
A high informant consensus factor (ICF) value is obtained when the selection criteria are based on well-defined selection principle for certain specific plants traditionally used to treat the livestock diseases and the usage information is shared amongst the informants or ethno-practitioners offering ethno veterinary services in that particular community [61]
The main livestock problems included in the categories with highest ICF values were FMD, retention of placenta and mange which are common in the livestock, most identified by the livestock holders, healers, ethno-practitioners etc

Summary

Introduction

The ethno veterinary medicine is a scientific term used for the holistic and interdisciplinary studies of the folk beliefs, traditional information, methods, skills and practices of the people about the livestock healthcare and livestock production found among the local community [1,2]. In addition it includes the information about the feeding, breeding and management strategies with spiritual elements and experience of humans [3].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion