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Indigenous medicinal uses, toxicity, and chemical composition of browsing plant used by camel in Ethiopia Somali Regional State: a survey

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Abstract

Camels (Camelus dromedarius) have access to different browsing plant that is a major source of feed and therapeutic value but also has the potential to cause poisoning to the camel. A survey was conducted between July and September 2017 to generate information on medicinal uses, toxicity, and chemical composition of major browsing plant in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. A total of 150 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and supplementary information was gathered through field observation and focus group discussions. The study showed 13 medicinal plants as being used by the respondents for the treatment of various camel ailments. The common part of the plant used to treat various aliment was leaves followed by root and bark. Dermal was the preferred route of remedy application followed by oral. The respondents identified 10 major toxic browsing plants. Those plants affect camels mainly in the dry and early rainy seasons when feed supply is scarce. Yet, poisonous browsing plants were the bottleneck problem and a major cause of economic loss in camel production in all study districts despite controlling poisonous plants through the indigenous approach. In total, 12 browse plants relished by camels were subjected to the chemical composition analysis. Laboratory result shown the chemical composition of browsing plants relished by camels has disparity except for the dry matter, and they have moderate crude protein content. Hence, the present study implies that the identified medicinal and preferred browsing plants have a significant contribution in supporting camel production in the pastoral area, but the emphasis should be given to reduce/eradicate poisonous plants that cause acute illness and death of camel.

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Funding

The authors are grateful to Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) for funding this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Ministry of Agriculture, Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Healthy Livestock and Poultry Production, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, Hunan, China

    Kefyalew Gebeyew, Yordan Martínez & Tolulope Adebowale

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Kefyalew Gebeyew, Yordan Martínez & Tolulope Adebowale

  3. Department of Animal and Range Science, Jigjiga University, P.O. Box: 1020, Jigjiga City, Ethiopia

    Kefyalew Gebeyew & Gebremedhin Gebresilassie

  4. Department of Animal and Range Science, Addis Ababa University, Selale Campus, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Bosenu Abera

  5. Department of Natural Resource Management, Wolaita Sodo University, P.O. Box: 138, Sodo, Ethiopia

    Aklilu Bajigo

  6. Department of Agricultural Sciences and Production, Pan-American Agricultural School, Zamorano, San Antonio Oriente, Honduras

    Yordan Martínez

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  1. Kefyalew Gebeyew
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  2. Bosenu Abera
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Correspondence to Kefyalew Gebeyew.

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Gebeyew, K., Abera, B., Bajigo, A. et al. Indigenous medicinal uses, toxicity, and chemical composition of browsing plant used by camel in Ethiopia Somali Regional State: a survey. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 1459–1466 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02152-1

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