Herbal and ethnoveterinary medicines in livestock treatment: Reviving traditional wisdom for sustainable animal health

Livestock play a vital role in agriculture by providing milk, meat, manure, and draft power, making effective animal healthcare essential for sustainable farming systems. In many rural regions, traditional knowledge systems continue to contribute significantly to livestock health management. Herbal medicines and ethnoveterinary practices represent important traditional approaches used by farmers to prevent and treat animal diseases using locally available medicinal plants. These practices are based on indigenous knowledge developed through centuries of observation, experience, and interaction with the natural environment. Medicinal plants contain various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, and terpenoids that exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to their therapeutic effects in livestock treatment. Ethnoveterinary remedies are widely used for managing common animal health problems including digestive disorders, skin diseases, mastitis, parasitic infestations, and reproductive disorders. The use of herbal medicines offers several advantages such as low cost, local availability, minimal side effects, and environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as lack of scientific validation, gradual loss of traditional knowledge, and overexploitation of medicinal plant resources remain significant concerns. Integrating ethnoveterinary knowledge with modern veterinary science through research, documentation, and conservation efforts can enhance livestock healthcare and promote sustainable agricultural practices.