An ethnoveterinary survey of medicinal plants used to treat livestock diseases in Seharti-Samre district, northern Ethiopia

Ethnoveterinary medicine is frequently used for treating livestock diseases by many different ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Nearly 90% of livestock population in Ethiopia use plant based traditional medicines as their major health care system. This study was conducted to identify ethnoveternary medicinal plants used for the treatment of livestock ailments in Seharti-Samre district, northern Ethiopia. Ethnoveterinary data were collected from 36 informants using semi-structured interviews. Twenty two species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were collected and identified for treating 18 different livestock ailments. Most of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were collected from the wild stands and leaves were most commonly used plant parts for ethnoveterinary medicine preparations. The ethnoveterinary medicinal plant preparations were applied through different routes of administration like dermal, oral, nasal, ocular and anal routes. Evaluation of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for their efficacy and possible toxicity would be very important. Key words: Ethiopia, ethnoveterinary, livestock, medicinal plants.