Investigation on health promoting medicinal plants to breeding animals

Herbivores prefer certain substances for self-medication whereas avoid others. Traditionally in many parts of Greece, breeders used to provide specific plants to their livestock for medicinal purposes. This knowledge and wisdom is getting extinct as young farmers prefer the use of the fast-acting medical substances rather the traditionally used medical plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate and record all traditionally used plants for medical purposes by farmers as well as the grazing preference of certain plant species by animals. For this aim an adequate number of questionnaires was prepared and distributed in livestock breeders of many rural parts of Greece. The results suggest that breeders from diverse areas react differently concerning the use of certain feed and plant species as medicine to face health problems of their  livestock. Young farmers are more willing, but less aware than the elder ones in the use of plants for medicinal purposes to their livestock. The use of certain plants is related to the location of the farm. However, there are certain plants that are commonly used throughout different areas. Plants are used for many purposes such as tumours, bloating, cold, fever, intestinal problems, respiratory infections, inflammation, and birth complications as well as to improve the animal welfare.