Use of Medicinal Plants by Livestock Farmers in a Local Municipality in Vhembe District, South Africa

Abstract

Respondents (n = 180) from Mutale municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa, were interviewed so as to assess the factors affecting the use of medicinal herbs in treatment of livestock diseases. A significantly greater proportion of males (79.8%) than females (52.7%) preferred a combination of treatment methods (P < 0.05). A significantly greater proportion of females (36.8%) than males (10.6%) preferred using medicinal herbs only (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportions of males and females using conventional drugs only (P > 0.05). Overall, a significantly greater proportion of respondents between 20-40years old (83.1%) preferred to use a combination of treatment methods (P < 0.05). A significantly greater proportion of the unschooled respondents (46.6%) preferred to use medicinal herbs only (P < 0.05). A significantly greater proportion of the tertiary-schooled respondents (50%), however, preferred to use conventional drugs only (P < 0.05). Parts from Cassia abbreviata and Cissus quadrangularis were the preferred oral treatments for retained placenta, Pterocarpus angolensis and Combretum collinum were the preferred oral treatments for constipation in cattle. Cissus quadrangularis, Dichrostachys cinerea and Ximenia americana were preferred for topical treatment of wounds, Synadenium cupulare for arthritis, Ziziphus mucronata for mastitis, Maytanus eduncularis for fractures and Gossypium herbaceum for blindness in cattle, sheep and goats.

Ethnoveterinary survey of plants used for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep at three agro-ecological zones in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

“…The male supremacy in ethnoveterinary knowledge may be because of cultural expectations that when a woman marries, she will not inherit the knowledge of the household. These findings are in conformity with several previous researchers who observed that knowledge of medicinal plants is mostly transmitted from father to son and limited to older people (Ahmad et al 2016;Bartha et al 2015;Chitura et al 2018;Garedew & Abebe 2018). High number of respondents who can read and write can play a major role on improving animal health-related diseases through recordkeeping, measurement of dosage, adoption and practice of new technologies that may enhance livestock production under communal sector.…”

Characterisation of the indigenous knowledge used for gastrointestinal nematode control in smallholder farming areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

“…C. quadrangularis Linn. is widely used for the treatment of multiple ailments, such as controlling ticks [ 4 ], promoting bone fracture and tissue healing [ 33 ], treatment of Newcastle disease [ 34 ], retained placenta [ 35 ] and worm infestation [ 36 ]. According to the literature, some popular plants that participants identified have been reported to possess anthelmintic properties amongst other medicinal uses; A. anthelminthica Brongn [ 37 ], S. birrea [ 38 ], T. emetica [ 39 ], A. ferox [ 13 ], V. neocorymbosa [ 40 ], and S. pinnata [ 38 ].…”

African smallholder farmers and the treatment of livestock diseases using ethnoveterinary medicine: A commentary

“…Adapting local knowledge of plants and the practices associated with this has been well-documented in the literature (Mayer et al 2017 ; Chitura et al 2018 ; Kambizi 2016 ). The totality of the indigenous local animal healthcare beliefs and practices is popularly referred to as ethno-veterinary medicine (EVM), and the practice is reported in various continents in both developed and developing countries (Vougat Ngom and Foyet 2022 ).…”