Ethnoveterinary practices amongst tribal pig farmers in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India

Abstract

Folk traditional knowledge and practices are very rich and popular among the tribal farmers in different agricultural practices. The community-based cross-sectional study was carried out to know about pig farming patterns, ethnoveterinary knowledge and practices among various tribal pig farmers in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India. Various field data pertaining to pig management were collected through personnel interviews, pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires, participatory rural appraisal, group discussions and field visits. This study attempted to evaluate the potential use of medicinal plants and their by-products as feed ingredients and traditional folk medicine. A total of 40 species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were recorded which are principally used to cure various major and minor ailments like fracture, parasitic infestation, maggot wound, diarrhoea, fever, etc. The use of locally available feed ingredients will help in the exploration of forest resources, minimize production costs. The present study recorded a total of 21 wild plant species which are used for feeding pigs with the most frequently used species belonging to Broussonetia papyrifera, Colocasia esculenta, Alternanthera sessilis, etc. The study will help the farmers, environmentalists, researchers, and other stakeholders to identify, document, familiarize and a better understanding of the distribution of rich medicinal plants in the hill region.