Medicinal Plants as an Alternative to Antibiotic : Ethnoveterinary Remedies or Natural remedies Used to Control Poultry Diseases
The use of plants as traditional medicine against viral diseases in the production of animals have been described and practiced worldwide. Common herbal extracts are used as antiviral agents in treating or preventing virus diseases of farm animals such as poultry, swine, and ruminants. Some of the common viral infections and natural remedies for their treatment are discussed below.
Growth in poultry sector can contribute to enhanced nutrition and poverty reduction in India, because a large share of the rural poor is dependent on poultry for food and income (Murthy and Madhuri, 2013). However, key challenges faced by this industry include high feed costs combined with supply shortage of corn, inadequate cold chain and transportation infrastructure, high vulnerability to disease outbreaks and highly volatile realizations affecting cash flows (Ghosh et al., 2011). In India, poultry production and management practice can be characterized by extensive poultry production system and the production of village chicken is low due to flock mortality by disease, predator and poor management practice. Traditional animal healthcare practices, also called ethnoveterinary medicine, provide low cost alternatives in situation where western type drugs and veterinary services are not available or are too expensive (Galav et al., 2013). So many plant species have been reported as medicinal plants which are commonly practiced by the rural communities for different diseases in both animals and human beings. Medicinal herbs as potential sources of therapeutics aids have attained significant role in health system all over the world for both humans and animals not only in the diseased condition but also as potential material for maintaining proper health (Verma and Singh, 2008).
Formulations made and their application:
1. Bryophyllum pinnatum: Extract of 5 leaves is mixed with 50 gm of molasses and added 1 litre water (for 100 birds). Application: Once daily for three days.
2. Musa sapiantum: Extract of 1 raw fruit is mixed with 1 litre water (for 100 birds). Application: Once daily till complete cure.
3. Piper betle: Extract of 5 leaves mixed with 50 gm of molasses and added 1 litre of water (for 100 birds). Application: Once daily for three days.
4. Carica papaya: Extract of boiled fruit (500 gm) is mixed with 1 litre water (for 100 birds). Application: One times daily for three days.
5. Zingiber officinale: Extract of 100 gm of ginger is mixed with 10 gm black piper. The mixture is added to 4 litres of water (for 100 birds). Application: When disease appears apply once a day for three days
7. Allium sativum: Extract of 100 gm ginger mixed with 10 gm of black piper and 30 gm of Garlic. The mixture is added to 4 litres of water (for 100 birds). Application: When disease appears apply once a day for three days.
8. Moringa oleifera: Extract of Sajina leaves (100 gm) mixed with 3 litres of water (for 100 birds). Application: Once a day from 25 days old.
9. Azadirachta indica: Extract of 4 or 5 leaves of maha neem mixed with 50 gm of molasses and added to 1 litre water (100 birds). Application: Once in a week for whole rearing period.
10. Musa bulbisiana: Ripe banana is chopped and given to the birds in the feed tub. Application: Given after 25 days old.
11. Phaseolus mungo: 100 or 200 gm of matimah (for 100 birds). Application: Given normally after 30 days old.
12. Glycine max: 200 gm (for 100 birds) after chopping is mixed with normal daily feed. Application: Normally given after 30 days old.
13. Curcuma longa: Extract of 50 gm raw turmeric mixed with 2 litres of water (for 100 birds). Application: During chick development till growing to medium size.
14. Citrus aurantifola: Extract of half piece citrus or 50 gm is mixed with 50 gm of molasses. The solution added to 1 litre of water (for 100 birds). Application: During summer seasons.
15. Brassica oleracea: Chopped cabbage supplied like daily feeds. Application: Commonly used as alternative feed to save normal feeds.
Plants species used in the management of poultry farm and their purposes
Sl. No. Local name Scientific name Part used Purpose/Use
1 Dupar tenga Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Pers. Leaf To treat for gaut disease, abnormal excretion
2 Kach kal Musa sapiantum L. Fruit To treat against excretory disorders
3 Pan Piper betle L. Leaf To treat for gaut disease
4 Amita Carica papaya L. Fruit To increase feeding for getting maximum weight.
5 Ada Zingiber officinale Rosc. Rhizome To treat against Chronic Respiratory Disease
6 Kala jaluk Piper nigrum L. Seed To treat against Chronic Respiratory Disease
7 Naharu Allium sativum L. Bulb To treat against Chronic Respiratory Disease
8 Sajina Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf To resist against high temperature
9 MaAzadirachta indica A. Juss. Leaf To treat against domestic pest infection and also useful to decrease housefly population
10 Bhim kal Musa bulbisiana Colla. Fruit To increase energy and weight, also decrease daily feed consumption
11 Matimah Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper. Seed To increase energy and weight
12 Sayabin Glycine max (L.) Merr. Seed To increase energy and body weight
13 Halodhi Curcuma longa L. Rhizome To get fine flesh, treat against excretory disorder, prevent lamp condition
14 Gulnemu Citrus aurantifola (Christm.) Swingle Fruit To resist high temperature during summer
15 Bandhakobi Brassica oleracea L. Leaf As an alternative of daily normal feed
Apart from the above cited ingredients, some other materials like curd, molasses alone are found using commonly by the poultry farmers of the villages. According to the farmers, curd can enhance the growth of the birds thereby increase the final weight. Molasses on the other hand was fed to induce the birds to take plenty of water, as water can prevent mainly the excretory disorders. However, from the above findings it is clear that formulations from different plant species can be used for ethnoveterinary remedies to various poultry diseases in a rural poultry farm. It not only helps in poultry farm management in remote area but at the same time increase the economic benefit by reducing the cost of production of the birds.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
