NATURAL MEDICATIONS (ETHNO-VETERINARY METHODS)
IN BACKYARD POULTRY FARMING
Post no-1431 Dt 10/10/2019
Compiled & shared by-DR RAJESH KUMAR SINGH ,JAMSHEDPUR,JHARKHAND, INDIA,
9431309542,rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
In India backyard poultry rearing is old as its civilization, required small space, low capital investment, quick return and well distributed turnover throughout the year make poultry farming remunerative. Due to commercialization of native chicken farming in India, the incidence of infectious diseases like Newcastle disease and fowl pox is increasing. In order to control various poultry diseases, ethno-veterinary medicine is widely practiced by poor village farmers. The use of ethno veterinary medicine can be considered sustainable as it is economical, culturally acceptable and ecologically sound. EthnoVeterinary is a branch of science deals with the study of traditional knowledge, methods, skills and practices are used for treating various ailments of animals . However, economic dependence on livestock, lack of effective veterinary infrastructure, etc. have forced the local farmers even today to apply their indigenous knowledge to look after and maintain their livestock population.
Herbal medicines have always been a form of therapy for livestock among resource poor smallholder farmers. There is, however, little documentation of the use of ethnoveterinary medicines, as many researchers and health practitioners view these practices as backward. Documentation of herbal plants is necessary because they are likely to be more important in the future, especially given the escalating costs of drugs and the focus on organic products in most developing countries. In addition, with the development of resistance of pathogens to drugs, ethnoveterinary medicine might be the route to take since herbs tend to be broad spectrum.
Misuse of antibiotics among poultry farmers is rampant and this is dangerous to both animals and human beings.Misuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance.The remains of antibiotics are left in animal products like eggs,poultry meat and milk.
We normally use food and spices in our day to day lives but have we ever known that these foods are cure to ailments in your poultry flock. Ginger, pepper, garlic,aloe vera and yoghurt are just among the food and spices that are medicinal in nature.Farmers practising organic farming will understand this better.
These natural medicines should be used alongside conventional drugs and vaccines but try as much as possible to include biosecurity measures to fight off diseases.This medications only apply to small holder farmers(100 birds and below).
1.)Pepper.
You wonder why some communities like them especially Indians?
Pepper has been known to improve metabolism but in poultry it is useful as it aids killing parasites that cause digestive problems e.g coccidiosis and also kills worms by burning them.
》Sprinkle ½ teaspoon in chicken feed or feed to them free choice.
2.)Garlic.
This particular spice alongside onions helps the birds in boosting immunity and also fights respiratory problems in poultry.Garlic will also kill external parasites as it produces sulphur in the body.The sulphur in the chicken’s blood will overpower the parasites.
》Add 3 cloves to 5 litres of water or a pinch or two of powdered garlic in dry feeds everyday.
3.)Ginger.
Ginger in chicken will boost appetite,helps in digestive problems and is also an immune booster.Ginger has anti inflammatory and antiviral properties.
》☆Just add a small pinch of ginger powder to the feed or feed it whole or grind it.
4.)Aloe vera
Aloe vera juice acts as an appetizer and also in treating wounds.
》☆Squeeze a few drops of aloe vera juice into the wound.It’s a natural antibiotic.It assists in curing victims of cannibalism.Apply it in the wounds of cannibalized birds and the bitter taste will deter the culprits.
5.)Fermented/sour milk/yoghurt/ Dahi
Sour milk/yoghurt act as a probiotic and kills harmful bacteria in the intestines therefore ensuring an improved immunity.As a result of this diarrhoea is prevented.
》☆Add it to feeds to form lumps but do not drench.It can also be fed free of choice.
6.)Papaya/pawpaw seeds.
Pawpaw seeds act as a good dewormer and also prevents coccidiosis infection.The seeds are used for this.
》☆Dry the seeds for two weeks and grind them.Mix 10gms of the powder in 10litres of water.
7.)Pumpkin/cucumber/courgette seeds.
》☆These seed when ground can be mixed in water to control worms.
8.)MORINGA/सहजन .
The plant provides lots of vitamins and minerals to your poultry flock.
》☆You can dry the leaves and make powder for use on water or feeds.
9.)Apple cider vinegar.
Available in the supermarkets.
》☆Use 5mls in 1 litre of drinking water and give to your birds for 3-5 days once a month.Rich in vitamins and minerals.
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10) Pepper——– Piper nigrum L.———– Ranikhet Disease ———–Grind 20 g seeds and mixed with 500 ml warm water and drench once to ranikhet diseased bird
11) Black mustard ——–Brassica nigra L.Seeds—————- Grind 50 g seeds and mixed with 1iltre of warm water and drench once to ranikhet diseased bird
12) Bhui Aamla——–Phyllanthus amarus Cuminum cyminum———– Phyllanthus amarus 100g mixed with 20 gram seeds of Cuminum cyminum and given orally for three days to ranikhet diseased bird
13) Onions ———– Allium cepa L. ———–Cut pieces of small onion given for three days to ranikhet diseased bird
14 हल्दी Haldi (Hindi); ———-Curcuma longa L. ———-Fowl Pox ————-Turmeric powder mixed with Neem paste for external application 75.6 Neem bark @ 1kg/1000 birds to be given after soaking in water, over night and Neem leaves as top dressing to the birds affected with Fowl Pox.
15) Vacha, Vach ———– Acorus calamus L ————–Ectoparasite Infestation——— Acorus calamus is ground and then applied over the affected area of the skin in hen to the birds affected with Ectoparasite Infestation.
16) Mewri; Nirgundi; Nisinda; Sambhalu; ———– Vitex negundo L.————- Smoke of notchi leaf is to control the ectoparasities
17) प्याज़ Pyaz ——– Allium cepa L. ————Fever Fresh onion stem are given internally for parasites or fever to hen
18) अफ़ीम Aphim ——– Papaver somniferum L. ———Enteritis Paste of seeds (100 g) is administrated to treat the enteritis and gastroenteritis
19) Neem ——–Azadirachta indica A. Juss. ————Wound Neem oil is used for wound healing
When using all these make sure you use conventional drugs too but in a controlled manner prescribed by a vet।.Avoid misuse of antibiotics and always vaccinate your birds.
The ethno-veterinary practices play an important role in treatment of Poultry diseases in Rural villages of India.. Further it is emphasized that backyard chicken should also be vaccinated against major diseases regularly for prevention of the disease .Ethno veterinary medicine is a natural and economical method to treat many diseases under field conditions
