Ethnoveterinary Medicine Usage in Family Chickens in the Selected Four Villages of Botswana

A study was carried out in Central, Kweneng and South East districts of Botswanato document ethnoveterinary practices used in health management of family chickens. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and through direct observation. The questionnaires were administered to 100 respondents (25 respondents per village) inKhudumelapye (Kweneng), Mogobane (South East), Mokubilo and Serowe (Central). The results of the study showed that females were the main owners and carers of family chickens constituting 86%. Forty-eight percent of the respondents were mature followed by youth (31%) and adults (21%). Family chicken losses were attributed to predation (35.29%), diseases (29.75%), parasites (20.09%) and theft (14.87%).The common diseases experienced by respondents were Newcastle Disease (NCD), fowl pox, and infectious bronchitis disease. Sixty-five percent of the respondents used modern medicines, 10% traditional remedies while 25% used both modern medicines and traditional remedies to control diseases and parasites.Six medicinal plants (Aloe spp., Moringa oleifera, Nicotiana tabacum, Boscia albitrunca, Senna italic, and Capsicum annum)that were used in the control and treatment of chicken diseaseswere identified. The commonly used plants were Aloe spp.and Nicotiana tabacumbecause they effectively controlled and treated diseases such as NCD, coccidiosis and respiratory diseases. The plant parts used were leaves, fruits and roots which were either used fresh or dry. Leaves were the common plant parts used. All medicinal plants were administered orally before or after disease outbreaks. Traditional remedies was the common methods of parasite control with wood ash predominating. The results indicate that respondents depended on ethnoveterinary medicine for treating family chickens’ diseases.