Ethnoveterinary practices of Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania

Abstract

BackgroundEthnoveterinary medicine is a topic of growing interest among ethnobiologists, and is integral to the agricultural practices of many ethnic groups across the globe. The ethnoveterinary pharmacopoeia is often composed of ingredients available in the local environment, and may include plants, animals and minerals, or combinations thereof, for use in treating various ailments in reared animals. The aim of this study was to survey the current day ethnoveterinary practices of ethnic Hungarian (Székely) settlements situated in the Erdővidék commune (Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania) and to compare them with earlier works on this topic in Romania and other European countries.MethodsData concerning ethnoveterinary practices were collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observation in 12 villages from 2010 to 2014. The cited plant species were collected, identified, dried and deposited in a herbarium. The use of other materials (e.g. animals, minerals and other substances) were also documented. Data were compared to earlier reports of ethnoveterinary knowledge in Transylvania and other European countries using various databases.ResultsIn total, 26 wild and cultivated plants, 2 animals, and 17 other substances were documented to treat 11 ailments of cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep. The majority of applications were for the treatment of mastitis and skin ailments, while only a few data were reported for the treatment of cataracts, post-partum ailments and parasites. The traditional uses of Armoracia rusticana, Rumex spp., powdered sugar and glass were reported in each village. The use of some plant taxa, such as Allium sativum, Aristolochia clematitis, and Euphorbia amygdaloides was similar to earlier reports from other Transylvanian regions.ConclusionsAlthough permanent veterinary and medical services are available in some of the villages, elderly people preferred the use of wild and cultivated plants, animals and other materials in ethnoveterinary medicine. Some traditional ethnoveterinary practices are no longer in use, but rather persist only in the memories of the eldest subset of the population. A decline in the vertical transmission of ethnoveterinary knowledge was evident and loss of practice is likely compounded by market availability of ready-made pharmaceuticals.

Plant-Based Solutions to Global Livestock Anthelmintic Resistance

“…A recent ethnoveterinary study reported that 70% of all practices in the study area relied on more than one plant (Bartha et al 2015). For example, the metabolites in Table 1 each target different parts of helminth physiology and/or reproductive cycle.…”

“…Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of anthelmintic plants is that they are often common (Figure 2). For example, Bartha et al (2015) found that villagers in Romania used Allium sativum bulbs, Cucurbita pepo seeds, Daucus carota ssp. sativus roots, and Quercus petraea and Quercus robur nuts to treat pigs, cattle, and horses.…”

“…However, this knowledge is a finite resource. The widespread use of synthetic anthelmintics has spurred the decline of traditional anthelmintics in livestock management around the world in favor of feeds such as maize, soy, and cereals which increase daily live weight gain (Bartha et al 2015). Farmers who switch from raising local breeds to crossed/exotic livestock breeds and/ or increase herd sizes due to governmental incentives also switch from local ethnoveterinary medicines to pharmaceutical alternatives (Nabukenya et al 2014;Vatta and Lindberg 2006).…”

Plants that can be Poisonous for Cows. A Review

“…Roots of de Veratrum album are used as tea in the treatment of diarrhea in calves (Bartha et al, 2015). Root dried and smeared onto the hair or boiled in combination with Brassica oleracea leaf sap are used in the fight against lice to large and small ruminants (Gub , 2005).…”

“…are inserted under the skin of sick animals to treat respiratory problems . At cattle, Helleborus purpurascens roots are inserted in the outer ear to treat inflammation (Vlková M., et al, 2015), the petiol of Helleborus bocconei are insered into the ear or the neck for bronchitis the leaves of Helleborus foetidus are inserted into the ears for bronchitis and pneumonia ( Bartha et al, 2015), Equisetum arvense is used to maintain the mineral balance during the period of calving (http://www.bionaturesanteanimale.fr,).…”