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Using Plants to Protect Livestock Health

SAC News Release Ref. No: 10N12
Published: 17 Feb 2010

Dr Jos Houdijk (opens in new window)

SAC researchers, based at the Bush Estate near Edinburgh, are among those taking part in a £13m international development research programme just announced by the BBSRC, the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences.

A team led by Dr Jos Houdijk will travel to Ethiopia to study just how effective the traditional plant-based treatments for parasites, used by native herdsmen are.  Their project, which has links with similar Scottish work on plants like chicory, is one of 16 aimed at tackling the growing threat livestock disease poses to global food security.

The SAC research on chicory is well recognised by leading sheep farmers.  Stock grazed on chicory is known to have fewer worm problems and grow faster than those grazed on conventional pasture.  The exact reason is being investigated.  Now a similar, complementary approach will be taken with some 30 medicinal plants found in Ethiopia.  Local farmers and herdsmen have traditionally used them for centuries to ward off pests.  However if they are asked why the plants are effective, they have no answer.

According to Jos Houdijk of SAC’s Disease Systems Team, “Like farmers across the world they often do things because their fathers and grandfathers did.  What we hope to do is systematically investigate how effective these traditional treatments are and to suggest ways of enhancing their use.  It is the kind of applied research we have built our reputation on, both in the UK and world wide.

The annual losses from worms, lice, mites and ticks in Ethiopian goats and sheep is over $100m, yet chemical treatments are often too expensive to use. The SAC team, together with colleagues at the nearby Moredun Research Institute, will work with traditional healers and scientists from Ethiopia’s Hawassa University.  They will select the most promising plants and carry out more detailed laboratory studies in Edinburgh and Ethiopia. If they find that plants can successfully be used to either prevent or treat the problems, they will seek ways of promoting their use amongst livestock keepers in Ethiopia and beyond. 

More than 900 million people in the developing world live below the poverty line.  Just one animal can meet the whole family’s needs, providing deadly and debilitating livestock diseases do not jeopardise it.  The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Department of International Development and the Scottish Government have joined forces to fund the new programme.  The SAC-led project is worth £900,000.

Scottish Government Minister Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said,

“We are proud that our world class science base in animal health is helping to address such global issues. The challenges are immense, but by working together we can make a real difference to the long term prospects and well being of communities throughout the world."

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Jos Houdijk
Research Scientist
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush,
Midlothian
EH25 9RG
TelWork 0131 5353245/6519339
Fax 0131 535 3121

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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