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Tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers and the effect of ticks on cattle in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

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Abstract

A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted by interviewing 59 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires and general conversation. Information collected was on external parasites of cattle, their effects and their control methods. Ticks were reported to be a major problem causing diseases like anaplasmosis (89.8%), babesiosis (55.9%) and ehrlichiosis (16.9%), as well as wounds that predispose to screwworm infestation, tick worry and teat damage to cows troubling farmers in their farming enterprises. The main tick control methods were; acaricides provided by government, however 94.9% of the farmers interviewed were of the opinion that the dip wash is not effective in killing the ticks. As a result, farmers complement the government dipping service with their own initiatives like spraying with conventional acaricides (22%), household disinfectants such as Jeyes fluid (18.6%), used engine oil (10.2%), chickens (5.1%), manual removal (5.1%), and pouricides (1.7%). In addition, some farmers also use plants (6.8%), mainly the leaf of Aloe ferox and the bark of Ptaeroxylon obliquum. The study revealed ticks to be a major problem in the study area.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Research Foundation of South Africa. They also extend their thanks to ARDRI staff and the Department of Livestock and Pasture Science for their support. They are also grateful to all the people in the study areas for their willingness to participate in the surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa

    B. Moyo

  2. Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa

    P. J. Masika

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  1. B. Moyo
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Correspondence to P. J. Masika.

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Moyo, B., Masika, P.J. Tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers and the effect of ticks on cattle in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 517–523 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9216-4

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