Abstract
In the southwestern Ethiopia there is huge livestock population with dense forest that requires more extensive assessment and documentation on poisonous plants, which are a neglected research area. Therefore this research was conducted to identify livestock poisoning plants with their respective ecology, seasons of occurrences and to assess effect on livestock production performance in the region from February to November 2022 with our key informants of farmers, traditional animal healers, and veterinarians. Structured questionnaire were used to collect information related to toxic plants for livestock and their associated risk factors. The most common poisoning plants identified in the study area includes Datura stramonium, Rumex crispus, Prosopis juliflora Ajuga alba, Solanum americanum, Amaranthus cruentus, Albizia gummifera, Cyperus rotundus, Uebelinia kiwuensis Xanthium strumarium, Tribulus terestris, Medicago polymorpha, Euphorbia tirucalli, Hedera canariensis and Trifolium burchelianum. Lack of green feed, shortage of pastures and overgrazing are the predisposing factors for livestock to consume poisoning plants. Most of the livestock poisoning plants were distributed in all agroecologies of lowland, midland, highland. Those poisonous plants were growing in the early rainy season and green in the dry season as well. Bovine species are the most frequently poisoned livestock followed by sheep, goats and equine by showing different symptoms. Traditional animal healers and farmers used different treatment mechanisms to relieve their poisoned animals by providing a mixture of soap and ash, soap with milk and cold water, garlic, alcohol, and other plant roots or leaves at different ratio, depending on the species of animal affected and type of poison. Physical control, biological mechanism and herbicide application of the infested areas by toxic plant, good range management, and wise grazing strategies can reduce the degree of poisoning of livestock.