Available online 3 April 2015
Uses of plants, animal and mineral substances in Mediterranean ethno-veterinary practices for the care of small ruminants
Abstract
Ethno-pharmacological relevance
The
cultural heritage of Sardinian shepherds is rapidly vanishing and
survives in the memory of elderly people. The objective of our study was
not only to report the usage of plants and their preparation for
administration but also the use of other remedies of different origin
arising from traditional ethno-veterinary knowledge, as Sardinian
shepherds were used to employ plants, animals, minerals and combinations
of several substances to prepare remedies for prophylaxis or therapy on
their animals.
Materials and methods
The
work was carried out in rural areas of the island of Sardinia (Italy)
by interviewing shepherds and filling questionnaires in order to record
ethno-veterinary practices traditionally used for animal health care.
Results
Ethno-veterinary
remedies traditionally utilised for treatments of small ruminants
against ecto-and endo-parasites, gastrointestinal diseases, viral and
bacterial diseases, wounds, sprains and bruises were identified. Non
herbal remedies outnumbered the herbal ones, as usually plant species
were mainly used for the care of cattle and equines. A total of 150
ethno-veterinary uses were documented for the treatment of 33 animal
conditions, a detailed account of the formulations and their
administration to sheep and goats was provided. Herbal remedies involved
the use of twenty two spontaneous species and seven cultivated species.
Conclusions
This
study identifies remedies used in ethno-veterinary practices for small
ruminants care in Sardinia, the second major Mediterranean island which
has agro-pastoral activities dating back to Neolithic. Moreover, the
danger of losing oral traditions, and the increasing attention towards
traditional remedies as potential sources of natural products for
improving animal health and welfare, support the interest of our survey.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Animal fats;
- Copper sulphate;
- Ethno-botanic field study;
- Mediterranean ethno-veterinary;
- Ovines
- Correspondence
to: Istituto per il sistema produzione animale in ambiente
mediterraneo, ISPAAM-CNR, Traversa La Crucca 3, località Baldinca, 07100
Li Punti Sassari, Italy. Tel.:
+39 079 2841605.
Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
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