Ethnoveterinary medicine practices of Guji Semi-Pastoralist People, Suro Barguda District, West Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: This research aimed to identify and document ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their associated indigenous knowledge, their preparation, application methods used by traditional healers, and status of their conservation with Guji Semi-Pastoralist People of Suro Barguda District, West Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.Methods: Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants data were collected by interviewing 196 informants (145 males and 51 females). Guided field walks and discussions (group and individual discussion) were used in collecting the data. Quantitative approaches were used to determine the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and use value (UV). Ethnoveterinary medicinal knowledge apprehended by different informant categories was compared using t-tests with R- software. Results: Forty-six ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species representing 43 genera and 29 families were identified in the district (Appendix 1). About 26.1% of the families (twelve families) were represented by more than one species. The highest number of species was recorded for Asteraceae (5 species, 10.9%), followed by Euphorbiaceae (4 species, 8.7%) and most ethnoveterinary medicines were prepared from herbs and shrubs than other growth forms. Chopping/pounding the remedial parts and homogenizing them with cold water was found to be the major mode of remedy preparation. All the documented ethnoveterinary plant species were harvested from the wild and observed as exposed for depletion. About 4.4% (two species) of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of Suro Barguda District were endemic to Ethiopia.Conclusion: This study indicated that the study area encompasses different species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants which should be given conservation priority and the local community depends largely on these plants for the treatment of different livestock ailments though the healers had a very high intention to keep their traditional knowledge secrete. The indigenous knowledge of pastoralists about plants (a traditional system of rangeland management) and livestock (breeding different species of livestock (grazers with browsers), as well as their environmental management system (traditional forest, soil, and water conservation system), should be incorporated in the planning and implementation of developmental interventions.