ETHNOVETERINARY PRACTICES AMONG SMALL RUMINANT FARMERS IN SOUTHERN LOWLANDS OF GANDAKI PROVINCE, NEPAL

This field-based survey intended to document different ethnoveterinary practices commonly used by small ruminant farmers of Southern lowlands of Gandaki province. Altogether 231 small ruminant farmers keeping sheep and goats, 79.2% (183 of 231) females and 20.8% (48 of 231) males, were enrolled in this study. Information about use of ethnoveterinary practices was gathered through in-person interviews using pre- structured questionnaire on participatory basis of farmers. Informant Consensus Factor (Fic) was used as the statistical tool for the study. Altogether 32 botanicals from 22 different families and 10 chemical products used are documented to be used for ethnoveterinary practices in small ruminants. Among these botanicals,10 are herbs, 8 shrubs and 14 trees and 22 dichotomous and 10 were monochotomous plants. 57 ethnoveterinary practices recorded in the study. They were mostly used for digestive system disorder 35.1%(20 of 57) such as diarrhea 25.0%(5 of 20) and bloat 20.0%(4 of 20), skin pathologies 14.0%(8 of 57) such as burn 37.5% (3 of 8), and myiasis 25.0% (2 of 8), respiratory system disorder 14.0% (8 of 57), cuts and wounds 10.5% (6 of 57) , reproductive system disorder 8.8% (5 of 57), and bones fractures 5.3% (3 of 57). The category that had the highest informant consensus factor (Fic) value was whole plant of Cannabis sativa for respiratory problems (Fic= 0.91). Out of 46 ethno botanical treatment practices ,36 was shoot parts mainly leaves, bark, flower and stem, 7 were root parts and 3 whole plant. This study shows that ethnoveterinary practice is common among small ruminant farmers of Southern lowlands of Gandaki province, Nepal. Considering the historical use of such practices in other parts of the country as well, exploring pros and cons of ethnoveterinary medicine would benefit in their rational uses.