Abstract
Increasing costs of tick control have necessitated a complete re-assessment of its economic impact. There are two main approaches to studies on production economics. Some researchers advocate a “systems approach” in which all production traits and their interactions are monitored simultaneously, whilst others claim that studies must produce specific data on selectively identified components in the system which can then be used in process/simulation type models.
Studies were carried out in Zambia using a farming systems approach to quantify the effects of tick control on traditionally managed Sanga cattle. It seems that this decision was justified, because it is evident from the results that the determinants of the effects of tick control are extremely complex.
Overall herd productivity, i.e. outputs of milk and weaner calf per livestock unit carrying capacity, was about 25% higher in a tick-free herd. However, the annual cost of control in 1988 at ZK286.26 per livestock unit was greater than the increase in value of the products at ZK175.48 per livestock unit carrying capacity.
From this study, the intensive tick control in this system is not justified in the absence of serious tickborne disease. However, the analysis of various interactions indicate that limited seasonal tick control of adults from November to April would be economically viable. Calves should not be treated until they are 3 months of age.
Résumé
Le coût toujours croissant des campagnes de lutte contre les tiques fait que leur impact économique nécessite une réévaluation complète.
Il existe deux approches principales pour évaluer économiquement une production. Certains chercheurs suggèrent “une approche des systèmes” dans laquelle les facteurs de production et leurs interactions doivent être disséqués simultanément. Tandis que d’autres chercheurs précomisent que des études devraient êtres faites pour fournir des données spécifiques sur des composantes soigneusement identifiés dans un système qui pourrait alors servir dans des modèles-types de “processus simulation”.
Des études ont été menées en Zambie à partir d’une approche de systèmes d’élevage pour établir la quantification des résultats de la lutte contre les tiques au sein bétail du Sanga élevé selon des méthodes traditionnelles. Cette décision semble trouver sa justification dans le fait qu’à partir des résultats obtenus, il apparaît évident que les facteurs déterminant les effets de la lutte anti-tiques sont extrêmement complexes.
La productivité globale d’un troupeau —c’est-à-dire la production laitière et la gain de poids par “unité bétail”—était à peu près de 25% plus élevée chez un tropeau non-infecté par des tiques. En 1988 cependant, le coût annuel de la lutte contre les tiques au prix de ZK 286,26 par unité de bétail était plus élevé que l’accroissement en valeur des produits à ZK 175,48 par “unité bétail”.
De cette étude il résulte une conclusion selon laquelle toute lutte anti-tiques intensive dans ce système ne se justifie pas tant qu’il n’y a pas une maladie sérieuse causée par des tiques. Toutefois, une analyse de diverses interactions indique qu’une lutte périodique contre les tiques chez les bêtes adultes, de novembre à avril serait économiquement viable.
Les veaux ne devraient donc pas être soumis à ce type de traitement anti-tiques avant l’âge de 3 ans.
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Pegram, R.G., James, A.D., Oosterwijk, G.P.M. et al. The Economic Impact of Cattle Tick Control in Central Africa. Int J Trop Insect Sci 12, 139–146 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400020610
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400020610