Indigenous knowledge of Plants used in veterinary practices in Metu District, Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Oromia Regional State, South west Ethiopia.

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.