Local practice of cattle farming and ethnoveterinary medicine in Estonia: Case study of saaremaa and muhumaa

Abstract

The general transition to cattle raising took place in Estonia during the Bronze Age (1800-500 BC), and thus both cattle raising and dairy farming have long traditions in Estonia. Data on animal husbandry and ethnoveterinary medicine were widely collected in Estonia since the twentieth century. The largest and most important collection in 1928-1934 was the Academic Veterinary Association (AVA) (in Estonian this is equivalent to ALS). The region for a case study for this chapter was limited to the islands of Saaremaa and Muhumaa. In this region, fieldwork was conducted by the Vassili Grünthal (as of 1930 named Ridala; 1906-1985) who became a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Tartu. In this chapter, we will analyse not only bovine diseases but also the impact of folk calendar dates on animal keeping. The most important day for cattle farmers used to be the day cattle were let out of their barn for the first time in the spring (called karjalaskepäev). The rituals done that day were meant to protect against the “evil eye” and wolves. We also briefly analyse the problems of grazing and the preservation of raw milk in the past. Animal keeping was also closely linked to popular beliefs, which is why we also analyse supernatural illnesses and their treatment. Herbal treatments were closely related to magic rituals, for which the most important species were Alnus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Juniperus communis, Dryopteris spp., Cypripedium calceolus and the fungus Taphrina betulina (Witch’s broom). The most important mineral in animal medicine and disease prevention was salt. Metals (iron, quicksilver, copper and silver) were used for ritual purposes, mainly for disease prevention. Linum usitatissimum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the most diversely used plant/fungi. Today, traditional animal husbandry in Estonia has disappeared and been replaced by large farms, where traditional ethnoveterinary medicine has no space. Traditional landscapes are maintained with nature conservation premiums and a new breed of beef cattle.