Medicinal plants used in treatment of cattle diseases in Serere district, Eastern Uganda

Medicinal plants form the backbone of the traditional medicine system in the whole world. However, use of medicinal plants for treatment is slowly disappearing due to modernization, urbanization and use of conventional medicine and drugs. The purpose of the study was therefore to identify and document medicinal plants used in the treatment of cattle diseases in Serere district, Eastern Uganda. A total of 80 cattle keepers were purposively selected for the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaires, observation guides, key informant interviews and field guided walk. The commonest medicinal plants’ families of the 25 families identified were Fabaceae (9.76%), Euphorbiaceae (7.32%), Meliaceae (7.32%), Mimosaceae (7.32%), Poaceae (7.32%) were the most dominant families. Followed by Combretaceae (4.88%), Cucurbitaceae (4.88%), Menispermaceae (4.88%), Solanaceae (4.88%), Vitaceae (4.88%). The main medicinal plant part used was the root (70%). The oral route (68.5%) was commonly used in administration of medicinal plants, prepared mainly as cold extracts (86.4%). A total of 28 cattle diseases/conditions were reported by the farmers to be treated using medicinal plants. The challenges faced by the farmers in the use of medicinal plants were mainly difficulty in preparation of extracts (30.3%) and seasonal unavailability of plants (16.7%), climatic change and deforestation (9.1%) and lower efficacy (9.1%). The plants were sourced from wild (76.2%), cultivated sources (15%) and Agricultural gardens (8.85%). Further research should be done to test the efficacy of these plants. The use of mainly root presents a significant conservation concern because it involves destructive harvesting that can kill the entire plant, rather than allowing for regeneration hence increasing vulnerability for extinction.