Ethnoveterinary Practices of Medicinal Plants Used in Animal Health Management in the Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Ethnoveterinary Practices of Medicinal Plants Used in Animal Health Management in the Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Ethnoveterinary medicine is frequently used for treating various livestock diseases by many different ethnic groups in Ethiopia. However, the indigenous knowledge of ethnoveterinary practices has not been systematically documented, despite their importance in animal disease management in the Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. In this study, we interviewed 115 key informants by using semi–structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field observation methods. A total of 103 plant species claimed to have medicinal value were collected and identified. The majority of plants (56.2%) were harvested from wild habitats. Herbs (33.8%) were the main source of medicine followed by trees (30.6%). Leaves (43.6%) and roots (27.5%) were the main plant parts used while pounding was the major form of remedy preparation. Inhabitants continue to have ethnoveterinary knowledge that has been orally transferred from generation to generation and in secret. Marketing of medicinal plants was not common in the studied area. However, high secrecy and the loss of valuable medicinal plant resources of the area calls for urgent and coordinated actions to develop conservation strategies.