Aim: The aims of the present study are to determine the significant plant species utilized in ethnoveterinary medicine of Central Anatolia region (Turkey), identify methods used for different veterinary preparations, and to compare the plants used in the treatment of different animal dermatological diseases in other regions of Turkey and different parts of the world. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 173 individuals in total by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, between 2009 and 2013, for the purpose of recording traditional veterinary remedies and practices employed in animal health care. In order to evaluate the reliability and richness of the knowledge of medicinal plants in the area, quantitative indices, such as "informant consensus factor (FIC)," "use value (UV)," "relative frequency citation," and "fidelity level," were used for the data analysis. Results: The findings of this study have revealed about 26 species, including herbs, trees, and green algae belonging to 22 botanical families utilized in the treatment of veterinary dermatological diseases by breeders in Central Anatolia. In the present study, the highest FIC score (0.90) was identified for cracked nipples. It was determined that Pine tar and Cydonia oblonga were used for the above-mentioned purpose. The second highest FIC value (0.87) was identified for ringworm. A number of medicinal plants were very popular and utilized intensively in the present research area. In accordance with the calculation performed on the basis of the UV, it was determined that Pinus nigra (0.43) and Allium sativum (0.28) had the highest UVs. Conclusion: The current study has emphasized the ethnoveterinary knowledge of plants recently in use and their new usage in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

No abstract

Organic animal production is a natural breeding system in which animal health is protected by giving priority to alternative medicines and treatment as needed by applying appropriate management and feeding methods based on the physiological requirements of animals. Increasing numbers of strains resistant to antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs used in animal breeding have brought about the search for alternative herbal remedies that lead to drug residues in animal products and lead to important health problems in people consuming these products. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic and protective effects of herbal drugs used in organic animal production in ethnoveterinary medicine in the Central Anatolia Region. The material of the study collected as written and declared facts as well as visual data were obtained from animal breeders in the Central Anatolia Region. The results indicated that 30 herbal drugs were used for the treatment of internal diseases, surgical diseases, obstetric and gynecological problems and parasitic diseases in cattle, sheep, horse, poultry, bee, and dog species. Based on the evaluation of the facts that the use of all kinds of synthetic drugs, especially antibiotics, is prohibited or restricted in organic livestock, it can be said that natural herbal drugs instead of artificial substances will provide positive contributions in the protection and treatment of herd health.

Turkey and Iran are two Near East countries that are developing ethical regulation systems for animal experiments, following significant developments in this field in neighbouring Europe. In Turkey, legislation was passed between 2004 and 2006 to mandate ethical review of experiments which involve the use of laboratory animals. Today, one central and 73 local ethics committees exist, to evaluate the use of animals and the numbers of animals used, and to consider applications for animal experimentation. In Iran, Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) were established in 2004 in approximately 50 medical universities. The objective of the AECs is to preserve animal welfare and ethics, taking into account Islamic principles, and to be cognisant of world trends for the improvement of laboratory animal welfare. The recent establishment of animal ethical review in the Near East could benefit from experiences in Western countries, in their evolution toward high standards of experimental animal ethics.

No abstract