Abstract
A study was conducted in Nakasongola district to determine socioeconomic factors that influence the use of acaricides on livestock. The information was got through focus group discussions (FGDs) and use of a questionnaire. Questionnaire was administered to one hundred households. Acaricides were used to kill ticks and biting flies which transmit diseases and cause discomfort to livestock. But to a less extent was also done for cosmetic purposes. Most of the farmers were aware of the correct acaricide dilutions as recommended by the manufacturers but they ignored them. But through trial and error came up with their own dilutions, which they said were very cost-effective. Further, they experimented on concoctions of different acaricide mixes and came up with acaricide combinations which were more effective in killing ticks and flies. Veterinarians and acaricide manufacturing companies had called this a malpractice. On the contrary, this should be treated as an innovation by farmers in their endeavour to find a cheaper sustainable method of controlling ticks and flies. Further research should therefore be done on these working “malpractices”.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- ECF:
-
East Coast Fever
- FGDs:
-
Focus Group Discussions
- MAAIF:
-
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
- TBDs:
-
Tick Borne Diseases
- TTBDs:
-
Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases
References
FAO, Regional Coordination and Training Project for Integrated Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Control Programme in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, 1998, (pp 8–10).
MAAIF, Prevention, Control and Eradication of Animal Diseases and Disease Vectors. Animal Health Strategy Contributing to Poverty Eradication-2003–2013, 2003. (pp 1–7, 21).
MAAIF, Uganda livestock development strategy, 2004, (pp 1–5, 15).
Minjauw B and McLeod A, The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on the livelihood of small-scale and marginal livestock owners in India and Eastern and Southern Africa. Research report, DFID Animal Health Programme, Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK, 2003, (pp 5–37).
Mugisha A., McLeod A., Percy R, et al, Strategies, effectiveness and rationale of vector-borne disease control in the pastoralist system of South-western Uganda. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2005, (pp 6, 479–489).
Mugisha A., Mcleod A., Percy R, et al, Socio-economic factors influencing control of vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist system of south-western Uganda. Tropical Animal Health and Production Journal, 2008, (pp 40, 287–297).
Nakasongola District Local Government, Three year Integrated development Plan, 2004/2005-2006/2007, 2004 (pp 1–2, 63–116).
Norval R A, Perry B D and Young A S, The Epidemiology of Theileriosis in Africa, 1992, (pp 303–308).
Ocaido M,. Modelling economic impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on developing mixed game and livestock production systems around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. Ph.D thesis, Makerere University, Kampala, 2003, (pp 342)
Ocaido M, Otim, C P, OkunaN M, et al, Socio-economic and livestock disease survey of agro-pastoral communities in Serere County, Soroti District, Uganda. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2005, Art#93 http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/8/ocai17093.htm. Accessed August 2008
Ocaido M, Muwazi R and Opuda-Asibo J, Economic impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on cattle production systems around Lake Mburo National Park in South Western Uganda, Journal of Tropical Health and Production on line URL doi:10.1007/s11250-008-9142-5, 2008a
Ocaido M, Muwazi R. and Opuda-Asibo J, Economics of developing mixed game and livestock production systems around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. Journal of Animal Biomedical Science, 2008b, (12–29). http://www.ajabs.net/journals/3Ocaidoformatedmak-nc.pdf. Accessed August 2008
Ocaido M, Muwazi R.T, and Opuda-Asibo J, Financial analysis of livestock production systems around Lake Mburo National Park, in South Western Uganda. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 21, Article # 70. 2009a, Retrieved April 16, 2009, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/5/ocai21070.htm.
Ocaido, M., Muwazi, R and Opuda-Asibo, J, Disease incidence in ranch and pastoral livestock herds around Lake Mburo National Park, in South Western Uganda. Journal of Tropical Health and Production on line, 2009b, URL doi:10.1007/s11250-009-9315-x.
Okello-Onen J, Ssekitto C M B and Mwayi W, Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Control in Uganda and Malpractices Associated with Acaricide Use, Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2004 (pp 663–666).
Otim C P, Ocaido M, Okuna N M, et al, Disease and vector constraints affecting cattle production in pastoral communities of Ssembabule district, Uganda. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2004. (pp 16,5)
Trochim W M K, Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2006, Retrieved February 04, 2008 from: www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/index.php
Thrusfield M, Veterinary Epidemiology, 3rd Edition. London: Blackwell Science 2007.
Walker A R,. Theileriosis and the tick control conundrum: a better way forward? Veterinary Journal, 2007 (pp 173, 248–249)
Acknowledgement
We wish to thank Dr James Bugeza, (Veterinary Officer, Nakasongola district) whose kind assistance made this work possible. Similarly we thank Dr N Kauta who extended great support to us for the entire process. Last but not least we thank all members of the farming community in Nakasongola district with whom we interacted and gave us good quality data.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mugabi, K.N., Mugisha, A. & Ocaido, M. Socio-economic factors influencing the use of acaricides on livestock: a case study of the pastoralist communities of Nakasongola District, Central Uganda. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 131–136 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9396-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9396-6