Ethnoveterinary medicine against poultry diseases in African villages

Abstract

The high incidence of disease is one of the major constraints to smallholder poultry production systems in Africa. In order to control various poultry diseases, ethnoveterinary medicine is widely practised by poor village farmers. Natural products, especially those which are locally available, are generally used. The use of ethnoveterinary medicine can be considered sustainable as it is economical, culturally acceptable and ecologically sound. Although village poultry farmers claim that these practices are effective, there is an urgent need for applied research to substantiate their assertions.

Keywords:

• Africa
• ethnoveterinary medicine
• disease
• plant
• poultry
• village