Assessing Indigenous Knowledge for Diagnosis and Treatment of Horse Diseases and Developing a Knowledge-Based System: Evidence from East Wallaga and Horo Guduru Wallaga Zones, Ethiopia

Abstract

Misgana Merga, Diriba Girma, Morka Amente and Mebrate Dufera

In Ethiopia, indigenous knowledge remains a vital pillar of equine healthcare, especially in rural areas where access to modern veterinary services is limited. This study documents, validates, and digitizes traditional diagnostic and treatment practices for horse diseases, culminating in the development of a knowledge-based system (KBS). A total of 86 informants, including traditional healers, horse owners, and veterinary officers, participated in semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document reviews. The collected knowledge was verified by veterinary experts and encoded into hierarchical models and production rules, implemented in a SWI-Prolog environment. The resulting system achieved an accuracy of 83%, sensitivity of 81%, and specificity of 85%, with an 83.4% acceptance rate among users. By formalizing indigenous veterinary practices into a digital expert system, this work demonstrates the potential of integrating traditional knowledge into modern animal healthcare to improve service delivery in underserved regions of Ethiopia.

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