Abstract:
Ethiopia is a country characterized by a wide range of climate and ecological conditions
possesses enormous diversity of fauna and flora. The study of indigenous knowledge on
utilization of native plants as source of traditional medicine is important to treat livestock
ailments. However as a source of knowledge, this traditional medicine practice is not sufficiently
documented. Accordingly this study was conducted with the objective of documenting ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species used in traditional livestock’s healthcare practices and the
associated indigenous knowledge of the people of Mettu district, South west Ethiopia. A
purposive sampling technique was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire and
field observation to document indigenous knowledge of traditional healers and useful medicinal
plants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and summarize the ethno-botanical data. 55
plant species, which have medicinal value against a total of 22 livestock diseases, were reported
which belonging to 39 plant families. From the growth forms of medicinal plants herbs constitute
the highest with 22(40.0%) and followed by Trees with 16 (29.09%). The most frequently used
plant parts were leaves alone 13(23.63 %) followed by root alone 10(18.18%). The most widely
used method of preparation was Pounding 42 (76.36%) followed by powdering and crushing
3(5.45%) each. The common route of administration recorded was oral 40 (72.72%) followed by
dermal 7 (12.72%), optical 2(3.63), and nasal were the least with 1(1.81%) each. Fabaceae and
Solanaceae families constituted the highest proportion followed by Asteraceae and
Cucurbitaceae. Majority of the traditional healers transfer their indigenous knowledge while
some of them kept the knowledge for the sake of secrecy. Most of the traditional healers were
found to have poor knowledge on the dosage while prescribing the remedies. More than one
medicinal plant species were used more frequently for remedy preparations. Metu District is rich
in medicinal plant composition and the associated indigenous knowledge. Seasonal availability
of the most herbaceous medicinal plants was the major threats to the indigenous knowledge on
Ethno-veterinary practices of the local people. Further documentation of medicinal plants,
Evaluation of their efficacy and possible toxicity would be very important.
