Veterinary Medicine and the Use of Medicinal Plants
Abstract
The article deals with the history of development of veterinary medicine in the Eastern Europe (Austria-Hungary) and Galicia from the Middle Ages to our days. Particular attention is paid to the history of use of plants in veterinary practice. Herbal treatment of animals in the past times was described in Martin Cech's book The book of Horses Treatment (Budapest, 1797). An analysis of modern literature was conducted with the issue of use of plants in veterinary medicine. Basically, it is the use of phytodactyls for feed as an alternative to antibiotics, dyes or other synthetic medicines in pig breeding, poultry farming, fish farming, dairy cattle-breeding and for reducing the bacteriological contamination of food, feed additives and veterinary drugs as well. These actions ensure the ecological safety of livestock products. In modern veterinary plants and their extracts are used as phytodactyls for feed, in particular: Silybum marianum, Echinacea purpurea, Tagetes erecta that increase chickens’ and piglets’ body weight gain, decrease level of diseases and improve organoleptic indicators of carcasses of broiler chickens. Due to the content of various biologically active substances herbal preparations have antimicrobial, immunostimulating, general health improving effect on an animal’s organism. Phytopreparations are used to improve digestion, enhance immunity, growth and reduce morbidity of animals. Phytopreparations are used as bactericidal medications for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. With prophylactic and curative aim are used phytodactylos, such as “Fitovet”, “Aciprogentin” і “Progentin”, “Species chamomillae SPOFA”. Galega orientalis, Origanum vulgare, species of the genus Philadelphus and other medical plants that contain a huge amount of flavonoids and essential oils. They have bactericidal properties and can be used for prophylactic and treatment of diseases and air disinfections on farms. Unfortunately, we still do not know much about the herbal treatment of animals. The modern veterinarian does not have enough knowledge about the possibilities of using medicinal plants in veterinary medicine.
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