ASSESSMENT OF TYPES AND UTILIZATION OF ETHNO-THERAPEUTIC REMEDIES ON SOME DISEASES OF SHEEP IN MAIYAMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

The study surveyed the types and utilization of ethno-therapeutic remedies on some diseases of sheep in Maiyama Local Government Area. Sixty (60) sheep keepers were interviewed from four (4) districts in the study area using a structured questionnaire. Results on demography, experience and flock size indicated that majority of the sheep keepers are males (91.67%) and are between the age of 61 and above, with 1 – 5 years rearing experience. Results on ethno therapeutic practice indicated that most of thesheep keepers use both traditional and conventional remedies (45%) for the treatment of livestock diseases have practiced for the past 11-20 years (38.34%). Results on alternative therapeutic remedies indicated that the majority of sheep keepers use conventional remedies (83.34%) more than traditional remedies. Result shows that the sheep keepers source their ethno therapeutic remedies from the market. The common diseases affecting livestock in the study area were identified to include diarrhoea, foot and mouth disease, milk reduction, placenta retention, ecto-parasites, muscular weakness, worm or internal parasites, dysentery, mange, catarrh, pox, contagious ecthyma, mastitis, constipation, respiratory disorder, and foot pain. The ethnotherapeutic remedies commonly used were Khaya senegalensis, roasted maize ,salt and warm water ,Grewia mollis, Hibiscus esculentus, Balanites aegyptraca, dried grasses, Poliostigma thoningi,Azadiracta indica,Guirrea senegalensis, Parkia biglobossa (locust bean), wood ash, cow dung , donkey faeces, groundnut oil, shea butter, Citrus aurantifolia, Carica papaya, Mangifera indica and Adansonia digitata. It was concluded that though the sheep keepers in the study area practice ethno-therapy, they however utilize more conventional drugs for treating their animals.