Plant-based remedies for livestock management: An ethnoveterinary assessment in selected rural areas of South Africa

Abstract

• A total of 66 participants with expertise were engaged to record their ethnoveterinary knowledge. • We recorded 80 medicinal plant species from 42 families were recorded in the study area. • Senna italica, Aloe ferox, Aloe vera, Ziziphus mucronata, Drimia sanguinea were the most utilized plants. • Skin diseases, reproductive/fertility disorders, and gastrointestinal problems were the frequently treated conditions. • Poly-plant formulations ( pitsa ) and additives such as salt and ash were used to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Livestock farming is a critical livelihood activity among rural communities in South Africa. The importance of documenting indigenous medicinal plants and associated knowledge and practices cannot be overemphasized. This study explored plant-based remedies, indigenous practices, and techniques used to treat livestock diseases in Bojanala Platinum and Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipalities, North West Province, South Africa. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interactwith 66 participants including livestock owners and herdsmen to generate an inventory of ethnoveterinary remedies, livestock conditions, and livestock treated. A total of 80 plant species from 42 families were recorded, with Senna italica Mill., Aloe ferox Mill. , Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Ziziphus mucronata Willd. , and Drimia sanguinea (Schinz) Jessop being the most traditionally utilized plants. Decoction was the predominant mode of preparation (72%), and oral (85%) was the preferred mode of administration. A total of 38 livestock diseases grouped into nine (9) categories were reported, with skin diseases, reproductive/fertility disorders, and gastrointestinal problems being the most dominant health conditions. The informant consensus factor (Fic) ranged from 0.68 to 0.89, confirming high level of agreement among participants on plant use for livestock health. Poly-plant formulations ( pitsa ) and additives such as salt and ash were used to enhance therapeutic efficacy. While most plants are harvested from wild habitats and are currently of least concern, the heavy reliance on roots and bulbs poses potential sustainability threats. The rich ethnoveterinary knowledge among Batswana communities highlights the importance for documentation, conservation, and generating pharmacological evidence to support a sustainable livestock healthcare.