Survey of Plants used in Ethno-Veterinary Medicine among the Fulani People of Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State.

Abstract

Ethno-veterinary of plants that are used in treating livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and fowls is as old as the history and discovery of the use of plants for food. Plants not only play important role in oxygen circulation of man’s breathing, but it possesses medicinal properties in it which can be a source of curing ailments, diseases in livestock and also on human health care. The study aimed at identifying plants that are used in treating livestock diseases among the Fulani people of Jalingo, Taraba State. Twenty-six (26) Plants were identified as plants used in treating livestock diseases which cut across (16) Families including the indigenous and exotic plant species. The study also showed that Meliaceae (25%) and Fabaceae (25%) were the most used botanical plant families followed by Caesalpiniaceae (12.5%) and Aliaceae (12.5%). The part of plants used most by the livestock herders was leaves (61.29%), followed by bark (25.80%), roots (6.45%) and fruits (6.45%). It may be concluded from the results of this finding that the Fulani people of Jalingo, Taraba State use plants in treating livestock diseases.