DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2016.v03i03.018

Pages: 251-256

This study was conducted in Mpwapwa district, located in semi-arid region of Tanzania. It aimed at assessing extent of ethno-veterinary practices among agro-pastoralists in treating various livestock diseases and parasites infestations. This study used the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method. A total of 97 agro-pastoralists were randomly selected as respondents. Data were collected by interviewing randomly selected agro-pastoralists using structured questionnaire. Also focus group discussions with groups of agro-pastoralists were conducted. While secondary data were obtained through documentary review. Descriptive statistics were employed in analyzing frequencies and percentages; while for inferential statistics the logistic regression was used in order to assess factors influencing agro-pastoralists to adopt EVPs. Findings revealed that majority (72.2%) of the respondents use ethno-veterinary practices in treatments of various diseases and parasites. The most important ethno-veterinary plants reported were Tephrosia vogelii (95.7%), Azadirachta indica (90.0%), Commiphora swynnertonii (84.3%), Tamarindus indica (72.9%), Aloe vera (48.6%), Euphobia tirucalli (75.7%), Carica papaya (55.7%), Solanum incanum (58.6%), Acacia nilotica (82.9%), Adansonia digitata (87.1%), Capsicum frutescens (65.7%) and Arachis hypogea (62.9%). According to those agro-pastoralists who engaged in the use of EVPs, they said that these plants were used to treat ectoparasites, endoparasites, skin infections, coccidiosis, fowl typhoid, Newcastle disease, diarrhea, dysentery, worm infestation, infertility, acetonaemia, bloat, ring worm and foot rot. Furthermore study revealed costs of buying or acquiring ethno-veterinary medicines, shamefulness in using ethno-veterinary plants and effectiveness of ethno-veterinary medicines in treatment of various diseases were found to influence significantly (P<0.05) the adoption of EVPs. While lack of knowledge on existence of EVPs, availability of eth