The high incidence of diseares is one of the...
The high incidence of diseares is one
of the principal constraints to African
smallholder livestock systems. The
generally resource-poor farmers do not
have money for or access to chemical
medicines or other cost-intensive
management systems. In ethno-veterinary
medicine, traditionalnaturalproducts
-
especiallyplantpmduds - are used for
the treatment of diseases. These locally
available pmducts are verysuitable for
use by small farmers. Bo th the ‘A fro-Asian
Network for Rural Poultry Development’
&NRPD) in Senegal and the UniverSty of
Ibadan, Nigeria, report on many positive
experiences with the use of
ethnoveterinatymedicines for both village
chicken and cattle production. However,
they also agree on the need for applied
research to substantiate these findings.
Diseases in village chickens cLf
Corntrol through ethno-vebwy medicine
El Hadji Fallou Guèye
Chickens arc of grcat im portaticc 1~)
African village households. ‘l‘he!,
constitutr more than 80% of thc
total poultry population in Africa (Sotiai!,n,
1395). In general, village producers kccp
Slli~lll fl0ckS of belweetl 5 ;lllti 20 chickcnb
pcr household. Women and chiltlren pl;t), ;I
kcy role in their tnüt~tgem~~n. ‘l’hC chic-
kens are generally raised in a frcc-range sya-
tetn, scavenging around the compouncl 01
housellolds, fecding on the locally availal~lc
resources c.g. earthworms, household rcl’u-
se, insects, residues from the harvest etc. In
addition, their fecd is suppletnentrd with
agriculturül (hy-) products, cspccially in thc
period of food scarcity. At night rime, ~hc
chickens are sheltered in rudimentary
‘I‘hc sc’vc’rc rcaritig 1ossc.s rïsttlt par’l!,
ccops, often rzised from the ground, which
from thc high mortality ofvt~II11g Chic.liS. II
provide protection against bad weather and
is cWim:ited llia1 mortalit?. OI intligctiou5l\\
ttight predators such as reptiles. Tllus villa-
tn.w;1gctl chic kcsri5 i5 TO”,, 1111 11) ciglil
ge chickens in Akicd are maintained with
\\VCTliS of agc in Hurkitia I~aso (\\X’ils<>n.
very low land, labour and capital inputs mri
1986) and Northcrn (~ll:tilî (L’;in Vclu~.
cari therefore be kept by even the poorest
1987). 66% at twel\\rc wccks in Sctiegal
social strata of the rural population.
(Sali, 1990; 13ulclgcn e t XI., 199,), .30.5’% “1’
I-lowever, because of its low
to four weeks ofagr in hlali (Kount;t.
productiviq, indigenous chicken
1992). (IX%, at six wccks in Nigeria
production in Africa bas becn ncglected,
(ologrlol”‘,
IW>) :ItlcI S.i”O 111) I<) 1’0111.
and is frequently considered by farmcrs as
week> ol’agc ~II ~:;uncw~on (.\\gl>dc CI :II
an insignifïcant occupACon comparcd wi tli
1995).
other agricultural acrivities. Nevertheless,
outside the urban centers, and especiallp in
Contre 1 of diseases
non-coastal areas, village chickens providc
Poultry discxscs seriously ;ill’cct village
the population with a vital source of
chicken production. Iiirds are almost never
protcin and income and play a key rolr
v;tcciti;:tcJ. Vcty occasiotially thcy rccei\\jc
within the context of many social (for
21: atittiG)tic Lthlcl origitiall!~ ititctitlctl li)t
spccial feasts for family or distinguished
hutll:ltl LlSC. Ill the :llwetlcr Ol’,SI’VCI’~
LW of the Butyrospermun
parkii (or
‘karité’) oil to control various ectoparasites
Ethnobotany in animal tare
such us ticks, lice’s and small red ants.
The state of Tahara, North-Eastern Nigeria, is inhabitcd I,y resident fàrmers and Pikmi hcrtlsmcn.
According to farmers, this oil obstructs the
‘lhe area is çovered with Guinea Savannah vcgctütion an6 is charactcrized by an avcc\\ge annu:
respiratory system of the parasites. An
rainfall of750 mm with a dry seascm from November to Mac&. Ficldwork of the .University of
infusion of the Ieaves of Borreriu
Ibadan, has revealed that the majority of the Fulani hcrdsmen (Bororo) huvc the knowledge OI
verticilutu are used to treat diseuses
traditional plant preparations through which common hcrd diseüscs arc cured. Scecis, roots,
affecting the birds’ locomotion.
leaves, barks, tubers and fruits are gathered for processing either by grinding, boiling or soaking in
In order to prevent snake-bites in vilbge
water, and used to taclde skin diseases, wounds, cold and reduced appetite.
chicken farms, a report from Zimbabwe
The Fulani rely on the indigenous knowledge passed on by their forefath& to obscrvc signs and
sympioms of sickness in animais and to decide oq the type of treatment. Comlp+y used species
indicates that the roots ofdnnona
senegalensis
include Boabab (Adaxsunla digitata) against diarrhea and skin Qsorders; Ginger (Zàngibw
are soaked and the fluid
ofjïcinule) as a laxative, appetizer and antiblodte, garlic (AIlium saliuz~vz) as *& antidote; African
sprinkled in the hen run to repel sndkes
locust beans (Parkiafilicoides) for skin infections, wounds and WOITIIS; Tobacco (Nicotiana
(Chavunduka, 1976). In Nigeria, poultq’
&&acum) against myasis, hoof infections and ectoparasites; and Neem (&adirqchtu Ntdictl) as :III
owners grow certain repellent plants or
in xct repellent. Fwmers justify the potency of the rcnlcdies in relation to the winwl’s health nnd
place sliced garlic (Allium sativwz)
pro luction performance in terms of fecd intnke, carcans size and quality. body wcight antl lactation
around hen houses to keep off snakes
volume. Iiowevcr, scientifïc testing would remove any doubts as to their efliciency and assure
(Ibrahim, 1996). According to Ibrahim and
such traditional lechniques acceptance in animal carc systems.
Abdu (1996), in Nigeria the spiny fruits of
Cucumispustulutus
are also plzced in the
Fmn: ‘The signlfkance of ethnobotany In animal ca&
drinking wüter of chicks to protect them
Akingboye KA, Dept. of Vetrrinlry Public Ilzalth LL Prev. Mledicine, University of Ibadat~, Ibadan, Nigeria.
againstr hawk attacks.
ïbe<urtiCIe cm be requestedfrom tbe autbor orILEB.
-
-
Conclusions
Ethnoveterinary practices using plant
products are effective against some
diseases. These plant products are locally
Table 1: Plant products used in ethno-veterinary practices to treat vilage chickens against
available and free or very cheap. Further
various diseases in African countries. (Bizimana, 1 Y Y 4)
research in this field is important for
understanding whether and when
Chicken diseases
Plant products
Application form
Countrv
traditional practices are effective and
should be used for village chicken
Fowl pox
Leaves of Aloe excelsJ
Added to drinking
Z i m b a b w e
water
production and when modern veterinary
Diarrhea
Young leaves of
Added t o drinking
Nigeria
medicine offers a better alternative.
B o s w e l l i a daizelii
water
Moreover, studies are needed under
controlled conditions on the efficacy rates
Enteritis and
1 eaves of Aloe
and veterinary properties of such plant
indigestion
saponaria Haw.
products and treatments.
Bloody and wn~t,~’
13uJh of At%?nirnn
The ‘Afr@Asian Network for Kural
diarrhcLl
multiflorum
Poultry Development (ANRPD)‘, which bas
Wortns
been set up to coordinate research,
Fruit of Cucumis
training and/or extension on village
prophetarum or
Sohnum nodiikvum
poultry, is encouraging SUC~ investigations.
13drk of Cussonid
,vlxw,r
n
Leaves of Cycnium
El Hadji Fallou Gu’&e, ANIU’D .Mrmbcr and Co-
E(e trouble in chicks
ddonense
Editorof tbeA.NRPD Newslrttrr,
R.P. 5Ç79, lhliar,
Senegal
l~i~ll~ of~\\dWJium
sdected references
mul~~/Yorcin~
-Agbédé GB, TéguiaA. and ,Manyrli Y. (1995). Enquh
I3ulb of
sur l’élevage traditionnel des volailles au
Mium ,s,ilh~lm
Cameroun. Tropicultura
13 (1): 22-24.
md Cqosicum
_ Bizimana N. (1994). TraditionaI veterinary practice
annuum
In Africa. Schriflreibe
der GrZ, No 243, Eschhom.
rruit of Cyperus
Germany.
Cholera
‘lrticuld tus
So,lked in drinking
NigericI
. Ibrabim MA. (1996). Etîmo-toxicology
among
Fruit of Adansonia
water
Nigenlan agropostoralists. In: McCorkle CU, ,Mafhios
Newcastle disease
digita ta
Rrokcn and dipptxti in
Nigeria
E. andScht&orn-van Veen nÿ, Ethnoueterimuy
Bark of Parkia
drinkingw~~ter
Research and Development,
IT Publications,
Southhampton
Row, London, pp 54-59.
filicoidea
OLtt into drinking
higc>tQ
- lbrahim MA. and Abdu PU. (1996). Ethno-
Stern of Euphorbid
mater
agnweterinary perspectives on poultry
candelahum
1. Sf’d
Tanzani~l
production In rural Nigeria. In: Ethnoveterinaq~
kotschy (Vdl:
Researcb ami Development (sec above).
candelabrum) or
. Lobi BB. (1984). Incidence de la vision et des
fruit of Capsicum
pratiques traditionelles sui le développement de
annuum rogether
I’avicuhre auTogo. Thèse E.I.S.M.V., No 11, Dakar,
with leaves of /boz‘I
SeIlegal
multiflora
. WattJM. and Breyer-Brandwijk
MG. (1962). The
medicinal and poisoi~ous plants of Southern and
Fruit of Cucumis
Eastem Mi+ca, E. & S. Livingstone LTD, Edinborougb
Poor growth, low
pustula tus
htixcd with bran and
Nigeria
and London.
production
Fruit of Cjperus
placed in drinking
‘?rmJlatus
water
Thefuli article und Ilot of referemes cmz Os requested
Soaked in drinking
Nigeria
from tbe uuthor or ILEIA.
wdter
of the principal constraints to African
smallholder livestock systems. The
generally resource-poor farmers do not
have money for or access to chemical
medicines or other cost-intensive
management systems. In ethno-veterinary
medicine, traditionalnaturalproducts
-
especiallyplantpmduds - are used for
the treatment of diseases. These locally
available pmducts are verysuitable for
use by small farmers. Bo th the ‘A fro-Asian
Network for Rural Poultry Development’
&NRPD) in Senegal and the UniverSty of
Ibadan, Nigeria, report on many positive
experiences with the use of
ethnoveterinatymedicines for both village
chicken and cattle production. However,
they also agree on the need for applied
research to substantiate these findings.
Diseases in village chickens cLf
Corntrol through ethno-vebwy medicine
El Hadji Fallou Guèye
Chickens arc of grcat im portaticc 1~)
African village households. ‘l‘he!,
constitutr more than 80% of thc
total poultry population in Africa (Sotiai!,n,
1395). In general, village producers kccp
Slli~lll fl0ckS of belweetl 5 ;lllti 20 chickcnb
pcr household. Women and chiltlren pl;t), ;I
kcy role in their tnüt~tgem~~n. ‘l’hC chic-
kens are generally raised in a frcc-range sya-
tetn, scavenging around the compouncl 01
housellolds, fecding on the locally availal~lc
resources c.g. earthworms, household rcl’u-
se, insects, residues from the harvest etc. In
addition, their fecd is suppletnentrd with
agriculturül (hy-) products, cspccially in thc
period of food scarcity. At night rime, ~hc
chickens are sheltered in rudimentary
‘I‘hc sc’vc’rc rcaritig 1ossc.s rïsttlt par’l!,
ccops, often rzised from the ground, which
from thc high mortality ofvt~II11g Chic.liS. II
provide protection against bad weather and
is cWim:ited llia1 mortalit?. OI intligctiou5l\\
ttight predators such as reptiles. Tllus villa-
tn.w;1gctl chic kcsri5 i5 TO”,, 1111 11) ciglil
ge chickens in Akicd are maintained with
\\VCTliS of agc in Hurkitia I~aso (\\X’ils<>n.
very low land, labour and capital inputs mri
1986) and Northcrn (~ll:tilî (L’;in Vclu~.
cari therefore be kept by even the poorest
1987). 66% at twel\\rc wccks in Sctiegal
social strata of the rural population.
(Sali, 1990; 13ulclgcn e t XI., 199,), .30.5’% “1’
I-lowever, because of its low
to four weeks ofagr in hlali (Kount;t.
productiviq, indigenous chicken
1992). (IX%, at six wccks in Nigeria
production in Africa bas becn ncglected,
(ologrlol”‘,
IW>) :ItlcI S.i”O 111) I<) 1’0111.
and is frequently considered by farmcrs as
week> ol’agc ~II ~:;uncw~on (.\\gl>dc CI :II
an insignifïcant occupACon comparcd wi tli
1995).
other agricultural acrivities. Nevertheless,
outside the urban centers, and especiallp in
Contre 1 of diseases
non-coastal areas, village chickens providc
Poultry discxscs seriously ;ill’cct village
the population with a vital source of
chicken production. Iiirds are almost never
protcin and income and play a key rolr
v;tcciti;:tcJ. Vcty occasiotially thcy rccei\\jc
within the context of many social (for
21: atittiG)tic Lthlcl origitiall!~ ititctitlctl li)t
spccial feasts for family or distinguished
hutll:ltl LlSC. Ill the :llwetlcr Ol’,SI’VCI’~
LW of the Butyrospermun
parkii (or
‘karité’) oil to control various ectoparasites
Ethnobotany in animal tare
such us ticks, lice’s and small red ants.
The state of Tahara, North-Eastern Nigeria, is inhabitcd I,y resident fàrmers and Pikmi hcrtlsmcn.
According to farmers, this oil obstructs the
‘lhe area is çovered with Guinea Savannah vcgctütion an6 is charactcrized by an avcc\\ge annu:
respiratory system of the parasites. An
rainfall of750 mm with a dry seascm from November to Mac&. Ficldwork of the .University of
infusion of the Ieaves of Borreriu
Ibadan, has revealed that the majority of the Fulani hcrdsmen (Bororo) huvc the knowledge OI
verticilutu are used to treat diseuses
traditional plant preparations through which common hcrd diseüscs arc cured. Scecis, roots,
affecting the birds’ locomotion.
leaves, barks, tubers and fruits are gathered for processing either by grinding, boiling or soaking in
In order to prevent snake-bites in vilbge
water, and used to taclde skin diseases, wounds, cold and reduced appetite.
chicken farms, a report from Zimbabwe
The Fulani rely on the indigenous knowledge passed on by their forefath& to obscrvc signs and
sympioms of sickness in animais and to decide oq the type of treatment. Comlp+y used species
indicates that the roots ofdnnona
senegalensis
include Boabab (Adaxsunla digitata) against diarrhea and skin Qsorders; Ginger (Zàngibw
are soaked and the fluid
ofjïcinule) as a laxative, appetizer and antiblodte, garlic (AIlium saliuz~vz) as *& antidote; African
sprinkled in the hen run to repel sndkes
locust beans (Parkiafilicoides) for skin infections, wounds and WOITIIS; Tobacco (Nicotiana
(Chavunduka, 1976). In Nigeria, poultq’
&&acum) against myasis, hoof infections and ectoparasites; and Neem (&adirqchtu Ntdictl) as :III
owners grow certain repellent plants or
in xct repellent. Fwmers justify the potency of the rcnlcdies in relation to the winwl’s health nnd
place sliced garlic (Allium sativwz)
pro luction performance in terms of fecd intnke, carcans size and quality. body wcight antl lactation
around hen houses to keep off snakes
volume. Iiowevcr, scientifïc testing would remove any doubts as to their efliciency and assure
(Ibrahim, 1996). According to Ibrahim and
such traditional lechniques acceptance in animal carc systems.
Abdu (1996), in Nigeria the spiny fruits of
Cucumispustulutus
are also plzced in the
Fmn: ‘The signlfkance of ethnobotany In animal ca&
drinking wüter of chicks to protect them
Akingboye KA, Dept. of Vetrrinlry Public Ilzalth LL Prev. Mledicine, University of Ibadat~, Ibadan, Nigeria.
againstr hawk attacks.
ïbe<urtiCIe cm be requestedfrom tbe autbor orILEB.
-
-
Conclusions
Ethnoveterinary practices using plant
products are effective against some
diseases. These plant products are locally
Table 1: Plant products used in ethno-veterinary practices to treat vilage chickens against
available and free or very cheap. Further
various diseases in African countries. (Bizimana, 1 Y Y 4)
research in this field is important for
understanding whether and when
Chicken diseases
Plant products
Application form
Countrv
traditional practices are effective and
should be used for village chicken
Fowl pox
Leaves of Aloe excelsJ
Added to drinking
Z i m b a b w e
water
production and when modern veterinary
Diarrhea
Young leaves of
Added t o drinking
Nigeria
medicine offers a better alternative.
B o s w e l l i a daizelii
water
Moreover, studies are needed under
controlled conditions on the efficacy rates
Enteritis and
1 eaves of Aloe
and veterinary properties of such plant
indigestion
saponaria Haw.
products and treatments.
Bloody and wn~t,~’
13uJh of At%?nirnn
The ‘Afr@Asian Network for Kural
diarrhcLl
multiflorum
Poultry Development (ANRPD)‘, which bas
Wortns
been set up to coordinate research,
Fruit of Cucumis
training and/or extension on village
prophetarum or
Sohnum nodiikvum
poultry, is encouraging SUC~ investigations.
13drk of Cussonid
,vlxw,r
n
Leaves of Cycnium
El Hadji Fallou Gu’&e, ANIU’D .Mrmbcr and Co-
E(e trouble in chicks
ddonense
Editorof tbeA.NRPD Newslrttrr,
R.P. 5Ç79, lhliar,
Senegal
l~i~ll~ of~\\dWJium
sdected references
mul~~/Yorcin~
-Agbédé GB, TéguiaA. and ,Manyrli Y. (1995). Enquh
I3ulb of
sur l’élevage traditionnel des volailles au
Mium ,s,ilh~lm
Cameroun. Tropicultura
13 (1): 22-24.
md Cqosicum
_ Bizimana N. (1994). TraditionaI veterinary practice
annuum
In Africa. Schriflreibe
der GrZ, No 243, Eschhom.
rruit of Cyperus
Germany.
Cholera
‘lrticuld tus
So,lked in drinking
NigericI
. Ibrabim MA. (1996). Etîmo-toxicology
among
Fruit of Adansonia
water
Nigenlan agropostoralists. In: McCorkle CU, ,Mafhios
Newcastle disease
digita ta
Rrokcn and dipptxti in
Nigeria
E. andScht&orn-van Veen nÿ, Ethnoueterimuy
Bark of Parkia
drinkingw~~ter
Research and Development,
IT Publications,
Southhampton
Row, London, pp 54-59.
filicoidea
OLtt into drinking
higc>tQ
- lbrahim MA. and Abdu PU. (1996). Ethno-
Stern of Euphorbid
mater
agnweterinary perspectives on poultry
candelahum
1. Sf’d
Tanzani~l
production In rural Nigeria. In: Ethnoveterinaq~
kotschy (Vdl:
Researcb ami Development (sec above).
candelabrum) or
. Lobi BB. (1984). Incidence de la vision et des
fruit of Capsicum
pratiques traditionelles sui le développement de
annuum rogether
I’avicuhre auTogo. Thèse E.I.S.M.V., No 11, Dakar,
with leaves of /boz‘I
SeIlegal
multiflora
. WattJM. and Breyer-Brandwijk
MG. (1962). The
medicinal and poisoi~ous plants of Southern and
Fruit of Cucumis
Eastem Mi+ca, E. & S. Livingstone LTD, Edinborougb
Poor growth, low
pustula tus
htixcd with bran and
Nigeria
and London.
production
Fruit of Cjperus
placed in drinking
‘?rmJlatus
water
Thefuli article und Ilot of referemes cmz Os requested
Soaked in drinking
Nigeria
from tbe uuthor or ILEIA.
wdter