Documentation of Ethno Veterinary Practices in District Charsadda, Khyberpakhtunkhwa

This study was conducted to document the ethno-veterinary practices (EVPs) used for treatment of different ailments in cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep in district Charsadda Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 61 Ethno-Veterinary Practices (EVPs) comprising of 37 based on plants, 14 based on combination of plants and animal products/chemicals/organic matter and 6 based on animal products/chemicals/organic matter were documented for 13 conditions of cattle and buffalo. Usage of 51 EVPs comprising 32 based on plants, 16 based on combination of plants and animal products/chemicals/organic matter, 3 based on animal products, chemicals or organic matter and one religious practice were documented for nine conditions of goat and sheep. A total of 75 EVPs comprising of 41 based on plants, 19 based on combination of plants and animal products/chemicals/organic matter, 15 based on animal products/chemicals/organic matter and one religious practice were documented for 13 conditions in buffaloes, cattle, goat and sheep by traditional veterinary healers. In the present study, 23 families representing 40 species were reported by the respondents. Families representing ≥ 2 species included Poaceae (Hordeum vulgare L., Oryza sativa L., Apiaceae (Trachyspermumammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Ferula assafoetida L. and Coriandrum sativum L.), Solanaceae (Capsicumaunnum L., Capsicum frutescens L., Nicotianatabacum L.), Zingiberaceae (Curcuma longa Roscoe, Amomumsubulatum Roxb., were group of families representing plant species used in more than three disease conditions in animal species selected for the present study. The Remedies were prepared by pulverization, soaking in water and decoctions and administered per as or applied topically the parts of plants used commonly included pepper-corns, bulbs, flowers, leaves, rhizomes, seeds and fruits. The EVPs that claimed to be effective need to be validated using scientific procedures and their quality, safety and standardization of doses should be assured.