Survey on Ethno-Veterinary Medicinal Plants in Selected Woredas of East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Plant remedies are still the most important therapeutics to treat livestock aliments; large part of the knowledge of ethno medicinal plants is declining to deterioration due to the oral passage of herbal heritage verbally. The objective of the study was to identify and document ethno-veterinary medicinal plants. Methods: The study was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014. The study sites were selected purposefully based on the recommendations of elders and local authorities. Ethno-botanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussion. 42 study participants were involved in this study during the study period.Results: A total of 28 ethno-veterinary medicinal plant species belonging to 22 families were documented with details on their local name, family, habit and their traditional preparation, mode of application. Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae families constituted the highest proportion (10.7%) followed by Fabaceae and Cuccurbitaceae with the same proportion (7.14%). The informants were reported as there were 16 known livestock ailments which are treated by traditional healers. Herbs (74%) were the most widely used followed by shrubs (34.3%). Oral route of administration (53.5%) was the most commonly used followed by topical (35.2%). About 68% of the plant taxa were collected from the wild and, 32% from home gardens. Agricultural expansion (23%) has been found to be the first main threat followed by overgrazing (21.2%). Conclusion: The study revealed that the traditional healers were with a good of knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat livestock ailments. Thus, further research should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and possible toxicity of the plants in the study area.

Keywords: Ailments, East Wollega Zone, Ethno-Veterinary Medicinal plants, Livestock