Use of Plants in the Management of Foot and Mouth Diseases in Sheep

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is still a challenge for the world, most particularly for developing countries. The ethno-veterinary science is considered as a viable practice for curing animal disorders in whole world. There is no particular allopathic treatment for foot and mouth disease (FMD) and disadvantages in the use of some prescribed medicines have diverted focus of researchers towards ethno-veterinary sciences. In this study, various locally accessible herbs were chosen for their therapeutic potential to treat sheep foot and mouth illness in Pampore town. Two sheep farms were examined out of which the members of one farm i.e. farm A were fed with plants like Salix alba, Salix babylonica, Convolvulus arvensis and Brassica oleraceae, var. Gongylodes while the members of farm B as usual were fed with wheat bran and local herbs. Extractions and preparations of these plants were used with a main aim to boost the immune system and to stimulate antiviral functions in animals. The results showed the members of farm A recovered quickly from the disease and had less mortality and abortion rate in comparison to farm B. The observed results documented from this study could be used to manage efficiently viral diseases in future and to improve the lives animals. Evidence from the study revealed the significance of said plants against FMD especially in Kashmir.