Knowledge and use of Ethno-Veterinary Medicines by Smallholder Farmers in Control Helminths in Beef Cattle in Matebeleland South, Zimbabwe

A structured questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the knowledge and use ethno-veterinary medicines by smallholder farmers. The study aims to determine the knowledge and use of traditional remedies by smallholder farmers to control helminths in beef cattle in Matebeleland South province, Zimbabwe.Findings on the study revealed that 52% use Ethno-veterinary medicines, 48% do not. The local people use six plant species belonging to five families as ethno-veterinary remedies. Three plant families were particularly frequent in usage: Ebenaceae, Caricaceae and Fabaceae while the most utilized plant species were Diospyros mespiliformis 26%, Carica papaya 23%, Dichrostachys cinerea 19%, Khaya senegalensis 19%, Viscum album 10% and Pterpcarpus angolensis 3%. Three common cattle gastrointestinal worms were identified in the surveyed area. The major and most common cattle gastrointestinal worms were strongyle, monezia and coccidia. The most frequently used plant parts were barks ( 62%), then leaves (24%), then stem (10%) and lastly roots (3%) Dichrostachys cinerea showed highest efficacy in strongyle, Carica papaya in monezia and Diospyros mespiliformis in coccidia. These ethno- veterinary plants were used not only as alternatives to conventional veterinary anthelminths but also because in certain helminths they were thought to be more efficacious.