Traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge of indigestion or diarrhoea treatments in cattle on the Bilogora hills in Croatia

Abstract

Traditional knowledge of plants and their preparations used for the treatment of animal diseases was passed down orally from generation to generation, so there are no written records or they are very rare. This study is based on the first documentation of ethnoveterinary knowledge for indigestion or diarrhoea treatment in cattle on the Bilogora hills in northwestern Croatia. Data collection was conducted from 2008 until 2018, in eighteen villages of four municipalities in the Koprivni?ko-križeva?ka county, Croatia. Plant specimens were well known, in addition they were confirmed and identified by the skilled botanist. Nine plant species: flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.), hazelwort (Asarum europaeum L.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), common oak (Quercus robur L.), white willow (Salix alba L.), common mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) from 7 botanical families were documented. Decoction and herbal tea were the most common preparation methods. The most often used plants to treat mild diarrhea in cattle were chamomile and broad-leaved dock, and for hard, watery diarrhoea bark of sweet chestnut and sessile oak. The most often used plants to treat indigestion in cattle were hazelwort, chamomille, and flaxseed. Farmers used mostly leaves (about 57%), flowers and stems (more than 25%), bark (about 13%), branches, and seeds (5%) for herbal preparations. Thus the aim of the present study is to document that ethnoveterinary tradition for the next generations. Keywords: Cattle; Diarrhoea; Ethnoveterinary; Indigestion