Assessing the knowledge level of ethno veterinary practices in sheep and goat among tribals of Kalrayan hills

Abstract

Ethno knowledge inherited from progenitors through their traditional culture, belief and rituals in the tribal community were the key factors in shaping the range of ethno-veterinary practices. However, “local treatment” has induced the systematic procedure were responding to healing the minor diseases in domestic animals. The tribal community orient with animal production with unique ethno knowledge approaches were used to diagnose and treat various sheep and goat diseases. The traditional followers of the tribal community practiced the healing treatment rather complex with ethno veterinary practices are viable to treat the sick animals. The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of ethno veterinary practices of prevalent sheep and goat farming systems in the Kalrayan Hills of Tamil Nadu, India. Three hundred tribal farmers in Villupram district were selected by proportionate random sampling method and the data were collected through an interview schedule and analyzed with appropriate statistical tools for pertaining the result. The study was conducted to survey the ethno-veterinary practices which were frequently used in managing their sheep and goat around the tribal track of Kalrayan hills. The tribal community is known for its long history of traditional sheep and goat keeping. Countrified livestock production is the predominant alternative livelihood empowerment in for tribal, where-in disease was prioritized as the major constraints. The study resulted that the knowledge of ethno veterinary practices are efficient in curing the animal health care towards the benefit of socio economical development in the tribal community of kalrayan hills in Villupuram district.