Ethnoveterinary Knowledge of the Fulani Community in Benin on Ethnobotanical Remedies for Gastrointestinal Parasites in Cattle and Chickens

Gastrointestinal parasites represent a major constraint to livestock production in northern Benin, where
Fulani communities rely on long-standing ethnoveterinary practices based on medicinal plants. This study aimed
to document endogenous strategies used to manage digestive parasites in cattle and chickens, assess the perceived
effectiveness of the plants employed, and identify opportunities for strengthening these practices. A multifaceted
approach was used, including the development of an interactive mapping model of the study areas, focus group
discussions, and individual interviews with 240 Fulani farmers to collect ethnobotanical information, followed by an
assessment of the plants identified by users. A total of 50 plant species from 25 families were recorded for cattle and 25
species from 15 families for chickens, some of which occur in ecologically sensitive areas and include taxa threatened
with extinction. The species reported as most effective correspond to those most frequently cited by respondents as
effective in treating gastrointestinal parasites. For cattle, Khaya senegalensis was cited by 73% of respondents, followed
by Anogeissus leiocarpa (55%), and Crossopteryx febrifuga (53%). for chickens, Khaya senegalensis was cited by 67.5% of
respondents, followed by Parkia biglobosa (62%), and Azadirachta indica (57%). The findings highlight the depth of
Fulani ethnoveterinary knowledge and underline the need to document, promote, and strengthen these medicinal
plant-based practices. To this end, their integration into a scientific validation framework is essential, particularly
through phytochemical screening of the species used, as well as the implementation of in vitro and in vivo biological
assays. Such an approach will enable the evaluation of efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of traditional remedies,
while contributing to their valorization and long-term sustainability.