INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE (ITK) PRACTICES IN LIVESTOCK FARMING IN INDIA
Post no-611 Dt-20/03/2018
Compiled & shared by-DR RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND
9431309542,rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
Today is Indigenous people day , so I have compiled some of the important Indigenous knowledge used by our rural livestock farmers.Indigenous knowledge is characterized as the sum of experience and knowledge for a given ethnic group, which forms the basis for decision making in regard to familiar and unfamiliar problems and challenges. It can play key role in designing of sustainable farming systems including animal husbandry practices thereby increasing the livelihood that rural populations would accept, develop and maintain innovations and interventions. For ages, human beings, in particular, the resource poor farmers and marginal societies around the world, have been utilizing locally available plant resources for formulating a wide range of plant based medicines for treating animal diseases as an economical, accessible, efficacious and ecologically sustainable means to animal health care practices. It is hardly surprising that due to these reasons, the domain of traditional veterinary knowledge has attracted a considerable amount of interest amongst scientific community, policy planners, and extension workers and development agencies in recent times.
ITKs Used in Dysentery—–
• One hundred to one hundred fifty g stem, leaves of Anantamul (Indian sarsaparila, Hemidesmus indicus) is grounded and juice is extracted and mixed with honey and to be fed to the animal suffering from dysentery.
• Three pieces of Golmorich (Black pepper, Liquorice Glcyrrhiza glabra Piper nigrum), 2 teaspoon full ghee and 50 g smashed Jastimadhu are mixed with 250 ml cold water and to be drenched.
• One hundred ml sap is collected from the extract of Thankuni (Indian pennywort, Centella asiatica), Patharkuchi (Coleus aromaticus) and Durba(Dhub grass, Cynodon dactylon) and drenched to the cattle for 2-3 days.
• Fifty ml extract of Ganda (African marigold, Targetes erecta) shoot is mixed with 50 ml extract of Durba (Dhub grass, Cynodon dactylon) and is drenched to the animal.
• Three pieces of Golmorich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum), 5 g Jowan (Bishop’s weed, Trachyspermum ammi) and 5 g Chirata (Swertia angusti folia var pulchella) are grounded and fed to the animal for 3-4 days.
• One hundred g bark of Simul tree (Salmalia insignis, Bombax insigne) is boiled with 500 ml water and then being drenched to the animal.
• Latex of Chatim (Dita bark, Alstonia scholaris) is mixed with Golmorich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum) in the ratio of (3:2) to be given to animal.
• Bark of Palas tree (Butea monosperma) is boiled with 250 ml water and then is drenched to the cattle for 3-4 days.
• Two hundred g Kalmegh (Creat, Andrographis paniculata) leaves and 100 g Thankuni leaves (Indian pennywort, Centella asiatica) are grounded to make a paste and then fed to the cattle.
• One hundred ml extract of Kurchi (Holarrhena antidysenterica) leaves is drenched to the animal for 2-3 days.
• Decoction of the root of Babul (Acacia arabica) is mixed with mustard oil in the ratio of 1:3 and to be drenched to the animal.
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ITKs Used in Arthritis———–
• Decoction of the root of Babul (Acacia arabica) is mixed with mustard oil in the ratio of 1:3 and to be drenched to the animal.
• Roots of Dhutra (Thorn apple, Jimson weed, Datura stramonium), Bonkul tree and Rasun (Garlic, Allium Sativum) are mixed and grounded. A paste is made and applied on the affected part.
• Hot fomentation is given with Akanda leaves (Asclepiadaceae, Calolropis gigantea) along with ghee.
• A luke worm paste is made from Rasun (Garlic, Allium sativum) and ghee and applied on the affected part.
• Sometimes some people put warm iron on the affected part.•
ITKs Used in Dog bite——
• Roots of Bonson tree are mixed with 21 pieces Golmorich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum) and the paste is fed to the animal.
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ITKs Used in Cough and cold——–
• One hundred g Tulsi leaves (Holy basil, Ocimum sanctum) and 100 g Basak leaves (Adhatoda vasica) are boiled with water. Then extracted juice is mixed with 1-teaspoon honey and fed to the animal.
• Three to four pieces of Tejpata (Indian cassia lignea, Cinnamomum tamala), 50 g Ada (Ginger, Zingiber officinale) and Aswatha (Ficus religiosa) leaves are mixed. Extract is made from the mixture and is drenched to the animal along with water.
• Efflorcence of Tulsi (Holy basil, Ocimum sanctum) and Basak (Adhatoda vasica) leaves are mixed and extract is taken and mixed with ghee, Ada(Ginger, Zingiber officinale) and molasses and fed to the cattle.
• Fifty ml Begna leave’s sap, 50 ml sap of Ada (Ginger) and 3 pieces of grounded Black pepper are mixed and fed to the cattle.
• A paste is made from ghee, Golmorich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum), Ada (Ginger, Zingiber officinale) and Rasun (garlic, Allium sativum). Then it is divided into 2 parts. One part is fed to the animal and other part is topically applied over head and neck.
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ITKs Used in Anoestrus———
• Seven pieces of chicken egg per day is to be fed for seven days.
• Twelve pieces of Kala (Edible banana, Musa paradisiaca) along with 400 g sugar are to be fed for 2 days.
• One hundred g paste is made from Jaba (Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa sinensis) flower’s bud and old sugarcane (Saccharum sinense) jaggery, then to be fed for 15 days.
• One hundred g Asok (Ashoka, Saraca asoka) tree’s bark is grounded and fed to the cattle.
• Two hundred g bark of Asok tree (Ashoka, Saraca asoca) is to be boiled with 1 litre milk, then, every day it is to be drenched with water for 15-20 days.
• A mixture is made with the extract of bark of Aswatha (Ficus religiosa) and gruel and is to be fed for 10-15 days.
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ITKs Used in Wound———
• Sap extracted from leaves and stem of Kesurta (Scirpus grossus) is mixed with Rasun (Garlic, Allium sativum) and to be applied topically.
• Halud (Turmeric, Curcuma domestica) is grounded and applied topically.
• Extract of Ganda (African marigold, Targetes erecta) leaves is applied topically.
• Jiyeti plant is to be burnt and ash of Jiyeti is then mixed with coconut oil and applied over it.
• Extract of Visalyakarani leaves is applied topically.
• Powder is made by grinding the seeds of Ata (Custard apple, Annona squamosa) and applied topically on the worm-infested wound.
• Paste is made from root, bark of Jam (Syzgium jambolanum) and applied topically on wound.
• Fruits of Khudikathi are to be grounded and mixed with coconut oil and applied topically.
• Roots of Kuchila (Snakewood, Strychnos nux-vomica) and roots of Surjamukhi (Common sunflower, Helianthus annuus) is mixed with Palas (Butea monosperma) petals and mustard oil and applied topically over the wound.
• Latex of Akanda (Asclepiadaceae, Calotropis gigantica) is applied topically.•
ITKs Used in Bloat———
• Fifty g Amlaki (Emblic myrobalan, Emblica officinalis), 50 g Haritaki (Chebulic myrobalan, Terminalia chebula) and 50 g Bahera (Terminalia bellirica) are mixed and fed to the animal daily once for 7 days.
• Ten g bark of Aswatha (Banyon, Fiscus benghalensis), 10 g Ada (Ginger, Zingiber officinale) and 10 g salt are mixed and fed to the animal daily once for 7 days.
• A mixture is made from flower of Tal tree (Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifer), flower of Halud (Turmeric, Curcuma domestica), fruit of Lata tree, soot of kitchen room, bark of Sonari tree and bark of Banahata and then fed to the cattle.
• One hundred g mixture is made of salt, Pyaj, Bakhad, Ada (Ginger, Zingiber officinale), bark of Aswatha and honey and then fed to the cattle for 3-4 days.A mixture is made with Pat alu (one type of potato), Halud, Bel, Gad (one type of creeper), ghee, Rasun, bark of Aswatha and then fed to the cattle.
• A mixture is prepared from burnt tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum), burnt Bhutta (Maize, Zea mays) and cockroach faeces and applied on the belly.
• One hundred ml sap extracted from leaves of Kadam (Anthrocephalus cadamba) is drenched to the cattle for 2-3 days.
• Mixture of 250 g Somraj (Centrathierum anthelminticum) and 250 g Indrajan (Pala indigo plant, Wrightia tinctoria) is fed to the cattle.
• Twenty ml decoction of stem bark of Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis) is given to the animal.
• A 250 g mixture is made from Bitlaban (Natrum mur bit), grounded sulphur, molasses, black pepper and glue and then fed to the cattle.
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ITKs Used in Diarrhoea———
• Pulp of 100 g old ripened Tentul (Tamarind, Tamarindus indica) is fed to the animal for two to three days.
• Fifty ml sap of Peyara (Common guava, Psidium guajava) leaves is fed. It is efficient for goat especially.
• Valukchairi trees bark and roots of Lajjawati (sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica), Apang (Prickly chab flower, Achyranthes aspera) and Chakunda are to be mixed and grounded. Then 100 pieces Gol morich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum) and 2 teaspoons ghee are added to it. In case of calf, 40 pieces Black pepper are to be added. Then daily 100 g is to be fed.
• Bonkutti’s leave and Kirkichi tree’s roots are taken in an earthen pot and mixed with 2000 ml water. Then the mixture is boiled till it becomes 500 ml. Then 125 ml is to be fed to the cattle daily.
• One hundred and fifty gram Pelakacha’s fruit is collected and smoked and then fed to the cattle.
• Juice of Anarash (Pine apple, Ananus comosus) leaves is mixed with water and then is to be drenched 100 ml daily for 2-3 days.
• Neem (Margosa tree, Azadirachta indica) leaves and bark of Daka and bark of Daniaa are mixed and sap is extracted from the mixture and then 100 ml of it is drenched everyday for 3-4 days.
• Six pieces of Simul (Bombax insigne, Salmalia insignis) seeds are pulverised and mixed with 250 ml butter milk, then filtrate of this is taken and mixed with goat faeces and to be fed for 3-4 times.
• Rakta Kambal leaves (Indian red water lily, Nymphaea nouchali) are mixed with soda and then fed to the cattle, 50 ml daily for 2-3 days when it is suffering from bloody diarrhoea.
• Sap of 250 ml Kala (Edible banana, Musa paradisiaca) leaves and 100 ml sap of Bans leaves (Bamboo, Bambusa arundinacea rundinacea) are mixed with 250 g sugar and fed to the cattle for 2-3 days.
• Bark and fruits of Bahera tree (Belliric myrobalam, Terminalia bellirica) are pulverised and mixed with water then it is boiled and to be fed 50 ml everyday for 4-5 days.
• Fifty ml sap of Tentul (Tamarind, Tamarindus indica) leaves and Sonal leaves are mixed with Gol morich (Black pepper, Piper nigrum) and then given orally for 3-4 days.
• One hundred ml sap of Kurchi (Holarkhena antidysenterica) leaves is to be fed to the cattle for 2-3 days.
• Fifty ml Juice obtained from bark of Sal tree (Sal, shorea robusta) and then it is to be drenched.
• Fifty to sixty ml decoction of stem-bark of Khair (Cutch tree, Acacia Catechu) is given to the animal twice daily for 2-3 days.
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Indigenous practices for livestock and animal Disease Traditional Treatment prevalent in Jharkhand———-
1. Diarrhoea— (a) Decoction of barks of Kendu and Bankulthi (b) Tawayan + Methi + Saunf + Sonth and rock salt with molasses
2. Constipation—— (a) Shoot of Kathal + leaves of Jashtimadhu along with gud given orally (b) Leaves of Kadam + bark of mango tree
3. Stomach pain——- (a) Leaves of tabenada + tobacco are given orally (b) Faeces of horse along with tobacco are given orall
4. Intestinal worms/——- (a) Leaves and bark of Farhar with molasses internal parasite (b) Fruit of Baibidan with molasses (c) Blood of duck
5. Ectoparasite ———–(a) Tobacco shoot with kerosene oil (b) Leaves of Karanj or Karanj oil (c) Dung ash with leaves of Saripha
6. H.S.——– (a) Hunmgata + Golki are mixed and half is given orally and rest half is pasted
7. Bloat ——–(a) Ajwain + Hing + Black salt (b) Onion + Ginger + Hing
8. Fever or cold ——-(a) Salam lutur leaves + leaves of pitusing + Lahsun are mixed and are given orally (b) Application of mustard oil with Lahsun (c) Leaves of Har Shingar and honey (d) Bhui-champa + Kalmeg + Pepper + Gol mirch
9. Foot and mouth——— (i) Foot lesion : disease (a) Making the animal walk in canal/river water (b) Application of lard (c) Leaves of kokarota + leaves of Borkunda are mixed and pasted (ii) Mouth lesion : (a) Application of fitkiri on affected part (b) Rubbing and feeding of arhar leaves
10. Fracture———- (a) Powdered root or paste of the stem of Harjaura (b) Harjaura + Pechki + Sajiwan
11. Skin disease——— (a) Oil expressed from seeds of Karanj is applied on the skin
12. Rinder pest———- (a) A mixture of root of Solam lutur (Clerodendrom serratum), leaves of Asaria (Coparis honida) and leaves of Bhajisay with gud (gruel) are given orally
13. Falling tail———- (a) Tendrel of Bar (Zizyhus injba) + Rola (Termindlia chebula) + Junapa are mixed and are pasted on the tail
Indigenous practices for livestock and animal Disease Traditional Treatment prevalent in BIHAR———
Livestock Management Practices–
i. Farmers reported that they use paste of Bael (Aegle marmelos) leaves up to 4-5 days, in order to reduce shoulder pain of working ox. ii. A healthy cow was unable to conceive even after giving all kinds of treatments. Finally it was used for ploughing up to three months, and then it became thin and came into heat and got conceived too. Now it is giving milk as cow and also used for ploughing as an ox. iii. Farmers revealed that for curing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) they use paste of custard apple (Annona reticulate) or Sarifa leaves and alum mixed water. They apply the paste on the wounded hooves and bandage with clean cloth. Simultaneously they use alum mixed water to wash the mouth of animal. iv. Cows with triangular shape, small legs, broad hind part, narrow fore part, and soft & shiny skin are considered by farmers as high milk producing cow. v. Farmers said that they give 150 ml Sesame oil with hukka or ‘Gudgudi’ water to animal suffering from ‘Aphara’ as an indigenous medicine. After taking this animal pass dung soon. vi. Buring of tortoise shell near animal shed protects animals from Foot and Mouth disease. This was a common belief among the farmers of Bihar. vii. Farmers used to give 2 numbers of ‘Nenua’ (sponge guard) per day to get cow in heat. viii. A mixed dose of 200gms of ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and garlic (Allium sativum) each in month of May, keeps foot and mouth disease away. ix. There is a common believe among the farmers of Bihar that to prevent animals from Khurha (FMD) one should apply a few drop of red ink on tender bamboo leaves on Saturday and give it to animals after chanting the mantra “Aage Arjun Pichhe Bhim, Khurha Mare Champaseen! Chhoote Laar Na Phate Khari Duhai Shrikrishna Chandra ki!!
Conclusions—–
• The documented ITKs showed the richness of the time-tested traditional knowledge applied to animal husbandry in the region specified under the study.
• Though all the ITKs have been found valid and effective as per the observations made by the farmers, they need to be validated scientifically and experimentally along with the identification and isolation of active ingredient present in the material used. Such studies will provide scientific rationality for use of ITKs in future. Since the ITKs seem to be cheaper, are locally and easily available even in remote areas and have lesser side effects, the use of these ITKs may be encouraged. While encouraging the use of ITKs, some modifications to make them scientifically rational may be made including blending.
