Dk. Davis et al., ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINE IN AFGHANISTAN - AN OVERVIEW OF INDIGENOUS ANIMAL HEALTH-CARE AMONG PASHTUN-KOOCHI NOMADS, Journal of arid environments, 31(4), 1995, pp. 483-500
Ethnoveterinary medicine is the study of indigenous knowledge systems
of animal health care, the practical aspects of which are relevant to
applied development work. The Afghan Pashtun Koochi of southern Afghan
istan possess a sophisticated body of ethnoveterinary knowledge about
animal diseases, treatments for animal diseases, and animal management
practices. Although the Koochi live and migrate in fragile, arid and
often sparsely vegetated environments, they know the regional plants a
nd minerals well and utilize many of them in the care of their disease
d livestock. The Koochi also use indigenous vaccination and surgical t
reatments to promote herd health. This study demonstrates the breadth
of the Koochi's knowledge in these areas and describes many of the ind
igenous methods and medicines they use to care for and to treat diseas
e among their livestock. (C)1995 Academic Press Limited