Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used To Treat Livestock Ailments In Ensaro District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Asaye Asfaw (
[email protected] ) Debre Brehan University Ermias Lulekal Addis Ababa University Tamrat Bekele Addis Ababa University Asfaw Debella Ethiopian Public Health Institute Eyob Debebe Ethiopian Public Health Institute Bihonegn Ssisay Ethiopian Public Health Institute Research Article Keywords: Ethiopia, Ethnoveterinary medicine, livestock diseases, indigenous knowledge Posted Date: August 17th, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-733200/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/24 Abstract Introduction: In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditional healthcare practices to manage their animals’ health. Ethnoveterinary practices play signicantly greater roles in livestock health care as an alternative or integral part of modern veterinary practices. This is because traditional medicines have remained the most economically affordable and easily available form of therapies for resource-poor communities. Even although, ethnoveterinary medicine is the most important and has higher acceptance and trust by the community in Ethiopia, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and associated indigenous practices are not adequately documented. This study aimed to identify and document ethnoveterinary medicinal plants with their associated indigenous practices along with the habitats of these plants in Ensaro district. Methods: This ethnobotanical survey included 389 informants (283 males and 106 females) from all 14 kebeles of Ensaro district, which is the smallest administrative unit in Amhara Regional State's North Shewa Zone. Systematic random and intentional sampling techniques have been used to obtain representative informants.