- Authors
-
Moyo, S.; Masika, P. J.; Moyo, B.
- Journal
-
Scientific Journal of Veterinary Advances
2015
Vol.
4
No.
2
pp.
13-20
- ISSN
-
2322-1879
- URL
- http://www.sjournals.com/index.php/SJVA/article/vi...
- Record Number
- 20153099752
Abstract
In most rural areas, chicken infestation with external
parasites poses a challenge to their productivity and associated
benefits. External parasites cause anemia, thus reducing growth, egg
production and may lead to death. They are mainly controlled by
commercial remedies, although resource-limited farmers resort to using
alternative remedies which are available and affordable. This study was
conducted to document external parasites of free-range chickens and
their ethno-veterinary control remedies used by resource-limited
farmers. A questionnaire survey was conducted amongst 93 households, 3
of which were herbalists, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The farmers
considered several external parasites to be a problem: mites (79.6%)
stick tight fleas (64.5%), lice (10.8%) and ticks (6.5%). Various
ethno-veterinary remedies were used to control the parasites, which
included ash (28%), madubula (26.7%) and Jeyes fluid (10%) both of which
are comprised of 13% carbolic acid, paraffin (8.4%), plants (5.2%),
used engine oil (2.8%), dip wash (2.5%), doom spray (d-phenothrin 0.4%),
blue death (permethrin 0.03%) (1.9%), diesel (1.9%), smoke (0.9%) and a
few (4.2%) used conventional insecticides namely karbadust (carbarly
5%) and (mercaptothion 5%). A small proportion (7.5%) does not use
either of the remedies. The materials used by resource-limited farmers
in controlling parasites were identified and documented.
