Use Of Ethno-veterinary Medicine Research Articles

Perceptions of ethnoveterinary medicine among animal healthcare practitioners in South Africa.

The South African government recognises the value of traditional healing and supports an integrated healthcare system. In the veterinary field, successful integration depends on the perceptions of different animal healthcare practitioners (AHCPs). This study aimed to determine the perceptions of ethnoveterinary medicine among state-employed veterinarians and animal health technicians in the North West province. A mixed model questionnaire and non-probability sampling gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 53 participants. Statistical and thematic analysis processes were applied to quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Overall, 77.4% of participants were aware of ethnoveterinary medicine practices. Approval of the use of ethnoveterinary medicine by farmers was above-average at a mean of 3.57, standard deviation (s.d.) = 1.016 on a 5-point Likert scale. However, 65.9% doubted the effectiveness of ethnoveterinary medicine, which suggests tolerance but no appreciation of its value. The Chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between district municipality of employment and awareness at χ2= 17.490,df= 3,p= 0.001. Thematic analysis of comments showed that some participants perceived ethnoveterinary medicine as unscientific and interfering with Western veterinary medicine, while some considered it a good complement to Western veterinary medicine. The study also found that 20.8% of AHCPs use ethnoveterinary medicine to treat certain diseases. In conclusion, the lack of appreciation for ethnoveterinary medicine among AHCPs may hinder government-proposed integration, emphasising the need for programmes to improve perceptions among these stakeholders.Contribution:This is first such study to report on perceptions of ethnoveterinary medicine among AHCPs, and assess their readiness for an integrated animal health system.

Use of Ethno-veterinary medicine among poultry farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Use of Ethno-veterinary medicine among poultry farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Cross-ethnic use of ethnoveterinary medicine in the Kashmir Himalaya - A Northwestern Himalayan region

Ethnoveterinary practices are an important part of Himalayan culture, and they have evolved as primary health care system for the treatment of different ailments in animals. The valley of Kashmir is home to a variety of ethnic groups [i.e., Gujjar, Bakarwal and Kashmiri], mostly occupied in agriculture and related services, having traditional knowledge to treat animal ailments by employing local flora. In the present study we documented the use of plant species used to treat animals, specific diseases treated with specific plant species, also we investigated the cross-cultural ethnoveterinary plant usage in the administrative district Kupwara of Kashmir valley. To gather the data we used simple random sampling; semi-structured and open-ended questionnaires followed by group discussions. The data were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis and ordination techniques [Principal Component Analysis] using Past Software ver.3.14. A total of 41 plant species, belonging to 25 families were identified as used for the treatment of livestock by the three ethnic groups in Kashmir. The distribution of species across families was asymmetric, with 7 families accounting for half of the species and 18 families accounting for the other half, but with 14 families comprising a single species. Asteraceae had the most species [15%], followed by Ranunculaceae [7%. Roots were the most frequently used plant part [48%,] followed by whole plant and leaves [18% each]. Different preparation forms were enlisted during the present study, but powder [54%] was the dominant form followed by decoction [22%] and paste [12%]. The Cluster analyses indicated substantial clusters of ethnoveterinary illnesses. In terms of disease-specific plant use, nearly one-third of the total species pool was used to combat gastrointestinal issues, while the remaining two-thirds of the species clustered out and were dispersed among the remaining 18 disease types. A cross-cultural comparison of plant resources showed that 15% of all plants were overlapping between the three ethnic groups. Our current findings of documenting ethenoveterinary knowledge serves a variety of purposes, including preserving it for future generations, securing it by placing it in the public domain, using it as a springboard for further research and conservation efforts. The documented species needs to be investigated scientifically as it can provide possible chances for the discovery of future novel molecules with potent medicinal attributions.

The use of ethnoveterinary medicine in treating cattle's milking diseases

The use of ethnoveterinary medicine in treating cattle's milking diseases

The use of ethnoveterinary medicine in treating cattle’s milking diseases

Ethnoveterinary medicines deal with the beliefs, knowledge, methods, practices, and skills of the people in maintaining the health of the animals. Ethnoveterinary medicine includes the use of medicinal plants or herbs to prevent and treat the diseases of livestock. The practice of the traditional system is very common in areas where the availability of modern veterinary medicines is rare. For decades the use of antibiotics is preferred for treating mastitis, but the use of such drugs is associated with human health concern. So, an alternative approach of using herbal drugs for treating bovine mastitis is preferred. In the cattle business, herbal plants are utilized for the treatment of dairy cattle sicknesses. Ethnoveterinary medicines can offer many chances in the development of new drugs and hence additional research is required for proper analysis of medicinal plants to be used as ethnoveterinary medicines. The current review paper has explored many data on the uses of herbal plants in ethnoveterinary practices for treating mastitis of dairy lactating cows. This study provides scope in understanding the concepts of traditional veterinary practices and the potential of herbal plant-based crude drugs.

A Review of Ethnoveterinary Knowledge, Biological Activities and Secondary Metabolites of Medicinal Woody Plants Used for Managing Animal Health in South Africa.

Globally, the use of ethnoveterinary medicine as remedies for animal health among different ethnic groups justify the need for a systematic exploration to enhance their potential. In addition, the increasing popularity and utilisation of woody plants remain common in traditional medicine, which may be attributed to their inherent benefits. The current review was aimed at analysing ethnoveterinary surveys, biological activities, and secondary metabolites/phytochemical profiles of the woody plants of South Africa. Eligible literature (period: 2000 to 2020) were retrieved from different databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Sabinet, and Science Direct. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 ethnoveterinary surveys were eligible and were subjected to further analysis. We identified 104 woody plant species from 44 plant families that are used in the treatment of different diseases in animals, particularly cattle (70%) and goats (20%). The most mentioned (with six citations) woody plants were Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC and Ziziphus mucronata Willd., which were followed by plants with five (Cussonia spicata Thunb., Pterocarpus angolensis DC and Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi & Galasso) or four (Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd, Cassia abbreviata Oliv., and Strychnos henningsii Gilg) individual mentions. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (19%), Apocynaceae (5.8%), Rubiaceae (5.8%), Anacardiaceae (4.8%), Combretaceae (4.8%), Euphorbiaceae (4.8%), Malvaceae (4.8%), Rhamnaceae (4.8%), and Celastraceae (3.8%). Bark (33%), leaves (29%), and roots (19%) were the plant parts dominantly used to prepare remedies for ethnoveterinary medicine. An estimated 20% of woody plants have been screened for antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity effects. Phytochemical profiles established a rich pool of valuable secondary metabolites (phenolic, flavonoids and condensed tannins) that may be responsible for the exerted biological activities. Overall, the significant portion of woody plants lacking empirical evidence on their biological effects indicates a major knowledge gap that requires more research efforts.

Ethnoveterinary study of plants used by Fulani agropastoralists for treating livestock diseases in Ido agrarian community of Oyo State, Nigeria

A survey was carried out on ethnoveterinary practices used by Fulani agropastoralists for maintaining the health and treating of livestock diseases in Ido agrarian community of Oyo State, Nigeria. Information was collected from fifty cattle herders using interview method with the help of Hausa interpreter and with the aid of questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (cross tabulations) to generate frequencies and percentages. Plants used for various ethnoveterinary and ethnomedicinal purposes were revealed. Information on the type of animals kept and management practices used by the respondents show that 48% kept cattle, goat and sheep. 14% kept cattle and goat, 36% kept cattle and sheep, while 2% kept cattle only. All the respondents agreed to stomach and intestinal worms as the prevalent ruminant diseases in the area. However, 86% of respondents reported seasonal appearance of worm infestations during wet season, while 14% both seasons. Higher percentage of respondents (80%) adopted the use of traditional medicine and conventional drugs in treating animals. 88% showcased the effectiveness of such combination of traditional and conventional drugs as being very effective. 20% of the respondents used the whole plant in formulating herbal preparations. Urbanization, seasonal variations and unquantifiable dosage have been highlighted as challenges encountered in the use of ethnoveterinary medicine in Ido agrarian community. 12% used decoction method of preparation, 50% used infusion, while 30% mixed plant with non-plant to formulate herbal preparations in solving the problem of helminthiasis and other diseases. The respondents who used local remedies claimed the knowledge of ethnoveterinary was passed from the parents to the children, and this keeps going from generation to generation. The results obtained from this study show that the awareness and the availability of ethnoveterinary plants among Fulani agropastoralists in Ido agrarian community of Oyo state is high, and this is responsible for the high patronage and usage of ethnoveterinary plants in this community. Intestinal worm infestations are the prevalent livestock disease encountered by the Fulani agropastoralists in the study area.

Review on Ethnoveterinary Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Livestock represents an important sector for the livelihood of sub-Saharan African countries’ inhabitants. In these countries, farmers raise livestock to meet household food demands and as additional sources of incomes, but its production is hampered by rampant animal diseases. The impact of animal diseases is particularly severe for poor communities that, although relying heavily on livestock, have limited access to modern veterinary services and therefore rely on indigenous medicines for the treatment of livestock ailments. Methods: The current review focuses on the ethnoveterinary health management practices found amongst livestock producers in sub-Saharan Africa. Documents were sourced from Google databases. Results: A total of 56 documents were reviewed, most of which were published recently (after 2000). The documents revealed the wide use of ethnoveterinary medicines among livestock producers in sub-Saharan African countries because of their cost and accessibility, threats to ethnomedicinal plant species through improper harvesting methods, overexploitation, the existence of inappropriate ethnoveterinary practices, and methods of conserving ethnomedicinal species. Conclusions: Given the persistent threats posed to ethnoveterinary medicine and/or practices in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the findings of this review highlight the importance of integrating and promoting the use of ethnoveterinary medicine that is likely to be lost if it is not given enough importance. It is also important to obtain an overview of recent publications on ethnoveterinary medicines to identify the gaps and scope required to be filled by future studies. It is envisaged that the review will stimulate further ethnoveterinary research among livestock disease management practices, which could lead to new pharmaceuticals in the region.

Use of ethnoveterinary medicine for management of common ailments of dairy animals

Use of ethnoveterinary medicine for management of common ailments of dairy animals

Ethnoveterinary medicine for responsible dairying

India is the largest milk producer in the world with 22 percent of the global share and engages around 6.3 crore rural households. The cost and availability of animal health services for small dairy holders in a country like India has always been a cause of concern. There is a growing apprehension about the presence of drug residues in milk and milk products as well emergence of drug resistant bacteria and its associated health risks due to indiscriminate use of these products. The cost of therapeutic medicines, antimicrobial resistance and the residues in milk, meat and other animal products have forced the animal health sector to look for alternate forms of therapy to overcome these deficiencies. The new alternatives should be affordable, farmer friendly and lead to minimal or no residues in milk and other products. Practice of Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM) is an approach that fulfils the above criteria. However, animal health service providers have very limited knowledge about EVM which in India is largely based on Veterinary Ayurveda. EVM has been used throughout the world by traditional animal rearing communities. EVM has been used for most common ailments in almost all domestic animal species. While there are efforts to document these practices, such documents are not widely available. Only recently, scientific scrutiny of these treatments for efficacy, mode of action and active ingredients has been initiated. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) along with Sabarkantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union, Sabarkantha, Gujarat and Trans-Disciplinary University, Bengaluru, evaluated the use of EVM initially for management of bovine mastitis and subsequently for management of other common ailments of dairy animals. It was observed that EVM was helpful in successfully managing mastitis (85%), diarrhoea (86%), fever (85%), indigestion (87%), anoestrus (77%), worm infestation (89%), wound healing (79%) and ecto-parasite infestation (87%) with high clinical cure rate. It was economical compared to conventional allopathic treatment. A reduction in residues of common antibiotics (quinolones, tetracycline, sulphonamide, s-lactam) in milk was observed in the area of operation. Drug resistant bacteria ( S. aureus including methicillin resistant S. aureus – MRSA; and E. coli including Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase producing – E. coli - ESBL), were isolated from the milk of bovines suffering from mastitis. EVM was able to cure even these animals. However, awareness about EVM is limited among animal health service providers and other stakeholders. EVM needs to be given adequate focus and mainstreamed. This would entail concerted efforts and initiatives in policy, research and development and infrastructure.

Perception of Ethno-Veterinary Medicine among Poultry Farmers in Oyo Statec

Getting to source for credit to finance poultry production as well as high cost of conventional medicines have been a major constraint among poultry farmers in Oyo state, Nigeria. The relatively low cost of ethno-veterinary medicine comes with added advantage such that when used for the treatment of poultry diseases, farmers would have the opportunity to reduce cost and increase their scale of production. Therefore, the study assessed perception of ethno-veterinary medicine among poultry farmers in Oyo state. Primary data were collected from 119 randomly selected poultry farmers. Well-structured questionnaire along with interview schedule was used to elicit information from the poultry farmers. Respondents’ mean age and years of experience were 44.3±12.3 and 9.3±7.0 years, respectively. Most of the respondents were male (90.8%), married (84%), sole proprietors (91.6%) with mean flock size of 6,255.8 ±2, 2462.5 birds. Majority (84.0%) of the respondents had low level of awareness of ethno-veterinary medicine. Lack of standardisation (2.9±0.2) ranked first among the constraint to the use of ethno-veterinary medicine. Most (65.5%) of the respondents had favourable disposition towards ethno-veterinary medicine. The study concludes that poultry farmers had favourable disposition towards ethno-veterinary medicine despite the constraints associated with its use and their low level of awareness. The study recommended the need for experimentation of medicinal plants with potentials to treat poultry diseases as well as increased sensitisation on the use of ethno-veterinary medicine to poultry farmers.

A survey of plants used to treat livestock diseases in the Mnisi community, Mpumalanga, South Africa, and investigation of their antimicrobial activity

Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM), although not documented well, still serves as an alternative or complementary medication for curing or preventing bacterial, fungal and helminth diseases, as well as other maladies such as ticks and tick-borne diseases in South Africa. The aim of this study was to document plant species used as EVM by the Mnisi community at Bushbuckridge in the province of Mpumalanga, and to evaluate their antimicrobial, antibiofilm and cytotoxic activities. The survey was carried out for two weeks from the end of January to the beginning of February 2018 at the local dipping tanks following the Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) approach. A total of 50 individuals were interviewed: 82% were local small scale farmers, 10% were herdsmen, 6% herbalists and 2% animal health technicians. Three plant species were selected for bioassays based on their frequency index and lack of information on their bioactivity in the literature. Traditional methods were used for plant extraction using water as described by the respondents. Acetone was used as an organic solvent to compare traditional and organic solvent methods of extract preparation. The extracts were tested for their antibacterial, antibiofilm, antifungal, and cytotoxic properties.Eleven plant species belonging to seven families were reported by the farmers for EVM use, and fresh plants from the wild were commonly used to prepare the remedies as decoctions, infusions, pastes and extracted sap. Elephantorrhiza obliqua acetone extract had the best antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.09 mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while E. obliqua water extracts had the best antifungal activity with MIC values of 0.02 to 0.04 mg/mL against Aspergillus fumigatus. Schotia brachypetala acetone extracts inhibited Enterococcus faecalis biofilms by 113% and 135% at zero and 24 h of bacterial growth respectively, while E. obliqua acetone extracts had values of 64% and 83% at these time periods, indicating that they were good inhibitors of biofilm formation and also had the capacity to act against mature biofilms. Seven out of nine tested plant extracts (78%) were non-toxic to moderately cytotoxic while only two plant extracts were relatively toxic against Vero cells. Traditionally prepared remedies were generally more active against fungi and mycobacteria and less toxic than the organic solvent extracts. However, in vivo studies are necessary to support the traditional use of the remedies against diseases in livestock in terms of validating the efficacy but also assessing their potential toxicity.

Perception and Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicine among IDO Poultry Farmers in Ibadan of Oyo State Nigeria

Perception and Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicine among IDO Poultry Farmers in Ibadan of Oyo State Nigeria

Use of cultivated plants and non-plant remedies for human and animal home-medication in Liuba\u0144 district, Belarus

BackgroundTo use any domestic remedy, specific knowledge and skills are required. Simple logic dictates that the use of wild plants in the context of limited interaction with nature requires prior identification, while in the case of non-plant remedies and cultivated plants this step can be omitted. This paper aims to document the current and past uses of non-plant remedies and cultivated plants in the study region for human/animal medication; to analyze the human medicinal and veterinary use areas in the context of the remedy groups; to qualitatively compare the results with relevant historical publications; and to compare the intensity and purpose of use between the remedy groups.MethodsDuring field studies 134 semi-structured interviews were conducted with locals from 11 villages in the Liubań district of Belarus. Currently used home-remedies as well as those used in the past were documented by employing the folk history method. The subject was approached through health-related uses, not by way of remedies. Interview records were digitalized and structured in Detailed Use Records in order to ascertain local perceptions. An Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) was calculated for remedy groups as well as for different use categories.ResultsIn the human medication area the use of nearby remedies was neither very diverse nor numerous: 266 DUR for 45 taxa belonging to 27 families were recorded for cultivated plants along with 188 DUR for 58 different non-plant remedies. The FIC values for both remedy groups were lower than for wild plants. In the ethnoveterinary medicine use area there were 48 DUR referring to the use of 14 cultivated plant taxa from 12 families and 72 DUR referring to the use of 31 non-plant remedies. The FIC value for the whole veterinary use area of cultivated plants was relatively low, yet similar to the FIC of wild plants.ConclusionsDifferences between remedy groups were pronounced, indicating that in domestic human medicine cultivated plants and non-plant remedies are either remarkably less important than wild ones or not considered worth talking about. In ethnoveterinary medicine non-plant remedies are almost equally important as wild plants, while cultivated plants are the least used. People in study area seem to still more often rely on, or are more willing to talk to strangers about, wild plants, as promoted by both official medicine and popular literature.

Ethno Veterinary Practices Prevalent Among Livestock Rearers at Arbe Gona And Loka Abaya Woredas of Sidama Zone of Southern Ethiopia

The use of ethno veterinary medicine as practiced among the residents of Arbe Gona and Loka Abaya woredas has been discussed. The study was conducted using semi structured questioner, focus group discussion and personal interviews. The respondents were identified by stepwise purposive sampling procedures. The study indicates that ethno veterinary medicine has been practiced among the agrarian community in the region since time immemorial. The results indicate that the practice is mostly a family affair with the knowledge transferred from the elders to the youngsters within a family. Thirty seven different types of medicinal herbs/plants used in ethno veterinary drug preparation were identified, the most commonly used plant part was the leaf followed by other plant parts viz. xylem, roots, barks etc. Mostly the drugs were used through oral route. Though topical application, fumigation and intravenous route of administration of the drugs too are on record. Twenty two commonly occurring diseases were identified by the respondents and their treatments too have been discussed. Use of different parts of several plants in unison is the common practice. The results also indicated that the medicinal plants are mostly collected from the wild and are under threat due to both ecological and anthropogenic factors and hence need conservation. The study also revealed that the millennia old practice is under threat due to lack of enthusiasm from the younger generations to take up the baton from the elder generation.

The Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicine in Goats in Lentsweletau Village in Kweneng District of Botswana

The study was conducted to document the use of ethnoveterinary medicine in goats in Lentsweletau village in Kweneng district of Botswana. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from 30 goat owners. The respondents were 53.33% females and 46.67% males. Seventy percent of the respondents used both modern and traditional medicine, 16.67% used modern medicine only, 10% used traditional remedies only and 3.33% used no medication on their goats. Nineteen ailments were reported, of which pasteurollosis and contagious abortion were the most frequent. The study revealed 13 plant species and other non-plant remedies which were commonly used in the treatment of diseases and the control of intestinal parasites in goats. Aloe spp. (Mokgwapha) was the most frequent plant used (17.65%). The plant was used to treat diarrhoea, cough and mange. Leaves and roots were the most frequently used plant parts used (35.29% each), followed by whole plant (23.54%) and lastly the bark (5.88%). Several non-plant remedies were reported. These included animal products like pig’s fat and a ground body of a dead old millipede. The medicinal value of the EVM documented in the present study should be confirmed in the laboratory so that they could be safely used by resource-limited farmers in the village.

Use of traditional veterinary medicine in Nhema communal area of the Midlands province, Zimbabwe

This study documents the use of ethno-veterinary medicine to treat livestock in Nhema communal area in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. This study employed oral interviews and detailed discussions with 69 smallholder farmers and 3 traditional healers. The local people use 23 plant species belonging to 16 families as ethno-veterinary remedies. Two plant families were particularly frequent in usage: Fabaceae and Solanaceae, while the most utilized plant species were Aloe chabaudii (UV = 0.69), Aloe greatheadii (UV = 0.65), Adenium multiflorum (UV = 0.63), Vernonia amygdalina (UV = 0.61), Nicotiana tabacum (UV = 56), Solanum lycopersicum (UV = 55), Capsicum annum (UV = 53) and Pouzolzia hypoleuca (UV = 51). Fourteen animal conditions were identified in the surveyed area. The major and most common animal diseases were tick-borne diseases, eye problems, retained afterbirth, fleas, lice and diarrhoea. The majority of ethno-veterinary remedies (78%) were collected from the wild, with respondents mostly using herbs (11 species, 48%), followed by 6 trees (26%), 4 shrubs (17%), and 2 climbers (9%). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (51%), followed by bark (16%), roots (13%) and fruits (10%). These remedies were mostly administered as decoctions or infusions of single plants. These plants were used not only as alternatives to conventional veterinary drugs but also because in certain diseases they were thought to be more efficacious. In view of many and widespread uses of wild plants as ethnoveterinary remedies, further research into their pharmacological activities may prove worthwhile.

Ethno-veterinary control of parasites, management and role of village chickens in rural households of Centane district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Mwale and Masika 2009 Ethno-veterinary control of parasites, management and role of village chickens in rural households of Centane district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Tropical Animal Health and Production. Village chickens contribute significantly towards rural livelihood in the African continent through the provision of animal protein, income and socio-cultural uses. However, village chickens are susceptible to parasite infestation. Due to limitations of using western drugs to control these parasites, farmers resort to the use of ethno-veterinary medicine (EVM). However, there is dearth of information on EVM use in chickens. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to document various EVM practices used in controlling gastro-intestinal parasites in village chickens. Stratified random sampling was used to select 62 chicken farmers that were interviewed using a structured questionnaire About 70 and 96.7% of farmers provided housing and water for their chickens respectively whereas the rest did not. The chief role of chickens was meat provision (91.7%). Most households (86%) reported parasite problems in chickens, particularly gastro-intestinal parasites. Eighty-three percent of the interviewed respondents use medicinal plants to control both internal and external parasites in chickens. Use of plants increased with parasite incidences (r=0.347; P<0.01). Mainly gastro-intestinal parasites were problematic and were largely controlled by medicinal plants. Further research on pharmacological properties, safety and efficacy of these plants is important for improved chicken productivity and hence rural livelihood.

Compilation and adoption of ethno-veterinary medicine, traditional and other management practices by small ruminant farmers in Edo State Nigeria

An inventory study into the ethno-veterinary medicine and traditional management practices and the extent of their adoption in the management of small ruminants by farmers in Edo State, Nigeria was carried out. Three hundred and fifty (350) small ruminant farmers randomly chosen from the seven (7) randomly selected local government areas in the state were used for the study. Data pertaining to farmers' background information, small ruminant acquisition and rearing as well as the ethno-veterinary medicines (EVMs) adopted were collected through a scheduled interview where structured questionnaires were administered. Data collected were used in the computation of ethno-veterinary medicine use indices (EVMUIs) and were subjected to simple statistical analysis. Results showed that 60.5% of the farmers interviewed were male while 39.4% were females and 56.9% of them were above 40 years old. About 60% of the farmers had between primary and secondary education, while 33.1% have no formal education and about 86% had little or no exposure to mass media. Thirty-seven (37) different EVMs/Traditional practices were identified. Based on their EVMUIs, 11 or 29.73% were highly used, 9 or 24.32% were moderately used while 17 or 45.95% were poorly used by farmers. Materials identified were noted to be locally available and were fully discussed. It is concluded that EVMs practices are actually adapted to the culture and socio-economic realities of resource poor farmers and means of spreading the knowledge among small scale farmers should be encouraged.

Use of ethno-veterinary medicine for the control if cattle parasites by smallholder farmers in Mutas District, Zimbabwe

Use of ethno-veterinary medicine for the control if cattle parasites by smallholder farmers in Mutas District, Zimbabwe