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Ethno-Veterinary Practices for the Management of Common Diseases in Dairy Animals in Rural Punjab

Ethno-veterinary practice (EVP) is based on folk beliefs, traditional knowledge, skills, methods and practices to cure diseases and maintain health of animals (Mathias-Mundy and McCorkle, 1989; Tabuti et al., 2003). Affordability is one of the most important virtues of the ethno-veterinary system. Drawbacks to modern veterinary practice include questionable quality of allopathic drugs, development of chemo-resistance in livestock and user unfriendly effects such as high antibiotic and hormone residues in the milk and other animal products (Fielding, 1998; Monteiro et al., 1998; Mathias, 2004).

. EVP is used for the maintenance of good animal health in developing countries (Kudi, 2003). The present study was undertaken to collect information on EVPs being used by the dairy farmers in the rural areas of Punjab over a one-year span of time for the management of common diseases in their dairy animals.

Materials and Methods
Data was collected randomly from 300 dairy farmers of rural Punjab through a well structured pre-tested schedule through personal visits to the respective farmers. For better representation of different regions of Punjab, the geographical area was divided into three zones-Sub-mountainous region, Central Planes and South-Western Plains. Information regarding use of any EVP at the time of various common diseases like mastitis, foot and mouth disease, ectoparasites and diarrhoea were collected. Efficacy of the particular EVP was judged from the outcome of that remedy as reported by the farmer. Later on its validity was confirmed by reviewing already published scientific reports.
During Mastitis a total of 7 EVPs comprising 4 based on plants and 3 based on combination of plants and chemicals were notified by 140 cattle owners. Azadirachta indica (neem) was the most frequently (n=40), used plant followed by Citrus limon (lemon) (n=24). The use of Piper nigrum (black paper) has been reported by 13 respondents, ammonium chloride by 8 and Allium sativum (garlic) by 14 respondents. Materials other than plants were also used alone or in combination with plants (e.g., common salt+lemon) by other respondents. A number of EVPs were reported by the respondents for prevention and treatment of mastitis. In the present study Allium sativum (garlic) was one of the most effective plant for the treatment of mastitis in bovine. This plant has been reported in literature to be used for its antiseptic and vermifuge properties (Bullitta et al., 2007). Other treatment include lemon juice (antibacterial, antioxidant and acidifier property which decreases the milk p h ) mentioned in literature (Abbas et al., 2002), neem water has antiseptic property which is reported in literature (Uncini-Manganelli et al., 2001), NH4Cl which have the property of acidifier which remove alkalosis is also reported (Pieroni et al., 2004), Piper nigrum have immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial property (Uncini-Manganelli et al., 2001) and combination of these (e.g. neem water + lemon juice) are also being largely used in treatment of bovine mastitis. Plants were used for fomentation purpose to decrease udder inflammation. Similar type of practice with different species of plants has been reported in case of mastitis in camels in Saudi Arabia (Abbas et al., 2002).
In Foot and mouth disease a total of 7 EVPs were notified by 105 cattle owners. Most of the respondents are using combination of EVP and allopathic treatment because they believe EVP alone is not so effective in FMD. Whiskey spray around the shed and the animal was the most frequently (n=27) used. Lal dawai (KMnO4) has been used by 21 respondents (n=21). The use of Acacia arabica (Indian gum) has been reported by 16 respondents, Allium sativum by 13 respondents, meat meal by 15 respondents, Whiskey spray+lal dawai has been used by 8 respondents and miscellaneous EVP (e.g. fish meal) used by 5 respondents. Most of these EVP practices are used in combination with allopathic treatment. In the present study EVP's used by the respondents includes whiskey spray (antiseptic) around the animal and the shed, lal dawai (KMnO4) which is antiseptic in nature (Uncini-Manganelli et al., 2001), acacia arabica (Indian gum) which have antiseptic, anodyne, anti-inflammatory and astringent property (Perveen and Bibi, 2008), Allium sativum (garlic) paste which has been reported in literature to be used for its antiseptic and vermifuge properties (Bullitta et al., 2007), meat meal and fish meal are used as protein supplement.
In the present study there was a strong agreement among some of the dairy owners that these types of infections do not find sole solution in EVM. They have to integrate the ethno-veterinary and allopathic treatment to cure the ailments. This is in close agreement with the statement made by dairy owners in other studies that EVM is not effective against acute infections e.g. foot-and-mouth disease (Kudi, 2003).
In ectoparasite infestation a total of 5 EVPs were notified by 217 cattle owners. Among the EVP followed Kerosine oil was the most frequently (n=75) used. Eruca sativa (taramira) has been used by 55 respondents (n=55). The use of black oil (used engine oil) has been reported by 6 respondents, manual removal by 61 respondents, and miscellaneous EVP (e.g. combination of above mentioned practices e.g. kerosene+manual, black oil+kerosine) used by 20 respondents. One of the most frequently used EVP for external parasites were Eruca sativa (Tara mira) contains erucic acid which is effective against ectoparasite especially ticks (Bianco et al., 1997). In the present study kerosene oil was most frequently used by the respondents is having insecticide and antiseptic property (Nfi et al., 2001). Black oil (old engine oil) containing sulphur has been used in Africa as treatment of various skin conditions (Mathias-mundy and McCorkle, 1989). Other practice in the study includes manual removal. Use of copper sulphate in livestock for liver flukes is also reported 15 . Use of cow butter oil, local soap, spent engine oil for ectoparasites and skin infections is also reported (Kudi, 2003).