The role of medicinal plants in treatment of cattle diseases in Serere District.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to document the role of medicinal plants in the treatment of cattle diseases in Serere district, with the general objective of identifying and documenting the medicinal plants used in treatment of cattle diseases, A total of 80 cattle-keepers were purposively selected for the study in the Sub Counties of Kateta, Kyere, Pingire and Bugondo and the data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaires,observation guides, key informant interviews and field guided walk from March to APril 2015. Specimens of plants that were used for treatment of cattle diseases were collected, coded and botanically identified. The common medicinal plants famil ies of the 25 families identified were Euphorbiaceae (97.3%), Poaceae (7.3%), Meliaceae (7.3%),Fabaceae (4.8%) Solanaceae (4%) Combretaceae (4.8%) and Cucurbitaceae (4.8%). The main medicinal plant parts used were the root (70%). The oral route- (68.5%) was, commonly used in administration of medicinal plants remedies which were prepared mainly as cold ·extracts (86.4%) A total of 28 cattle diseases/conditions were reported by the farmers to be treated using medicinal plants. The challenges faced by the farmers in the use of medicinal plants were mainly difficulty in preparation of the remedies/extracts, (30.3%) and seasonal unavailability of plants (16.7%), climatic change and deforestation (9.1%) and lower efficacy (91 %). The plants were sourced from wild (16.2%), cultivated sources (15%) and Agricultural gardens (8.85%). There are a large number of medicinal plants which have not been documented in Serere district. Therefore, documentation of these plants together with their indigenous knowledge before they become extinct is highly needed Further scientific research should be contacted to test the efficacy of these plants.