Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-07T23:37:54.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Economic Impact of Cattle Tick Control in Central Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. G. Pegram
Affiliation:
FAO/DANIDA Economics of Ticks Project, P. O. Box 30563, Lusaka, Zambia
A. D. James
Affiliation:
FAO/DANIDA Economics of Ticks Project, P. O. Box 30563, Lusaka, Zambia
G. P. M. Oosterwijk
Affiliation:
FAO/DANIDA Economics of Ticks Project, P. O. Box 30563, Lusaka, Zambia
H. G. B. Chizyuka
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary and Tsetse Control Services, P. O. Box 50060, Lusaka, Zambia
Get access

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.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Capstick, P. B. (1986) Tick control—the need for reappraisal. The Kenya Vet. 10, 3031.Google Scholar
Dargie, J. D. (1986) The impact on production and mechanisms of pathogenesis of trematode infections in cattle and sheep. In Parasitology Quo Vadit? (Edited by Howell, M. J.), pp. 453463. Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
de Castro, J. J., Young, A. S., Dransfield, R. D., Cunningham, M. P. and Dolan, T. T. (1985a) Effects of tick infestation on Boran (Bos indicus) cattle immunised against theileriosis in an endemic area of Kenya. Res. Vet. Sci. 39, 279288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Castro, J. J., Cunningham, M. P., Dolan, T. T., Dransfield, R. D., Newson, R. M. and Young, A. S. (1985b) Effects on cattle of artificial infestations with the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Parasitology 90, 2133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellis, P. R. (1986) Interactions between parasite and vector control, animal productivity and rural welfare. In Parasitology Quo Vadit? (Edited by Howell, M. J.), pp. 577585. Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
James, A. D. and Villamil, L. C. (1986) CPEC User Guide, Mimeographed.Google Scholar
Lammond, D. R., Holmes, J. G. H. and Haydock, K. P. (1964) Estimation of yield and composition of milk produced by grazing beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 29, 606611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matthysse, J. G. (1954) Report on Tickborne Diseases, Northern Rhodesia. Government Printer, Lusaka. pp. 28.Google Scholar
McCosker, P. J. (1979) Global aspects of the management and control of ticks of veterinary importance. Recent Advances in Acarology 11, 4553. Academic Press, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, R. S. (1986) Measuring the economic effects of disease on productivity in ruminants. In Proceedings of an International Conference on Veterinary Preventative and Animal Production. Aust. Vet. J. pp. 5357.Google Scholar
Morris, R. S. and Meek, A. H. (1980) Measurement and evaluation of the economic effects of parasitic disease. Vet. Parasitol. 6, 165184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muriithi, I. E. (1984) Delivery of services—the case for tick control. In Advancing Agricultural Production in Africa (Edited by Hawksworth, D. L.), pp. 266268. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, UK.Google Scholar
Norval, R. A. I. (1979) Tick infestations and tickborne diseases in Zimbabwe. J. Sth. Afr. Vet. Assoc. 50, 289292.Google ScholarPubMed
Norval, R. A. I. (1981) A reassessment of the role of dipping in the control of tickborne diseases. In Tick Biology and Control (Edited by Whitehead, G. B. and Gibson, J. D.), pp. 179185. Rhodes University, Grahamstown.Google Scholar
Pegram, R. G. and Lemche, J. (1985) Observations on the efficacy of invermectin in the control of cattle ticks in Zambia. Vet. Rec. 117, 551554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pegram, R. G. and Chizyuka, H. G. B. (1987) Towards an economic assessment of the economic impact of ticks on rural development. In Ticks and Tickborne Diseasexs (Edited by Sutherst, R. W.), pp. 104107. ACIAR Proceedings 17. Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Pegram, R. G. and Oosterwijk, G. P. M. (1990) The effect of Amblyomma variegatum on liveweight gain of cattle in Zambia. Med. Vet. Entomol. 4, 327330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pegram, R. G., Lemche, J., Chizyuka, H. G. B., Sutherst, R. W., Floyd, R. B., Kerr, J. D. and McCosker, P. J. (1989a) Ecological aspects of cattle tick control in central Zambia. Med. Vet. Entomol. 3, 307312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pegram, R. G., Lemche, J., Chizyuka, H. G. B., Sutherst, R. W., Floyd, R. B., Kerr, J. D. and McCosker, P. J. (1989b) Effect of tick control on liveweight gain of cattle in central Zambia. Med. Vet. Entomol. 3, 313320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Putt, S. N. H., Shaw, A. P. M., Woods, A. J., Tyler, L. and James, A. D. (1987) Veterinary epidemiology and economics in Africa. pp. 130. ILCA Manual no. 3 ILCA, Addis Ababa.Google Scholar
Steelman, D. C. (1976) Effects of external and internal arthropod parasites on domestic livestock production. A. Rev. Entomol. 21, 155178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutherst, R. W. (1985) The role of models in tick control. In Proceedings of an International Conference on Veterinary Preventative and Animal Production. Aust. Vet. J. pp. 3237.Google Scholar
Sutherst, R. W. (1986) Epidemiological concepts and strategies for parasite control: What changes are likely to occur? In Parasitology Quo Vadit? (Edited by Howell, M. J.), pp. 721729. Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Sutherst, R. W. and Kerr, J. D. (1987) Losses in livestock productivity caused by ticks and tickborne diseases. In Ticks and Tickborne Diseases (Edited by Sutherst, R. W.), pp. 108112. ACIAR proceedings 17. Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Sutherst, R. W., Maywald, G. F., Kerr, J. D. and Stegemen, D. A. (1983) The effect of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus on the growth of Bos indicus × Bos taurus steers. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 34, 317327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatchell, R. J. (1984) In Advancing Agricultural Production in Africa (Edited by Hawksworth, D. L.), pp. 268269. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, UK.Google Scholar
Tatchell, R. J. (1986) Review of chemical control of ticks. The Kenya Vet. 10, 2223.Google Scholar
Tatchell, R. J. (1988a) Interactions between ticks and their hosts. In Parasitology Quo Vadit? (Edited by Howell, M. J.), pp. 597606. Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Tatchell, R. J. (1988b) A study of the effect of tick infestation on liveweight gain of cattle in the Sudan. Trop. Pest Manage. 34, 165167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatchell, R. J., Chimwani, D., Chirchir, S. J., Ong'are, J., Mwangi, E., Rinkanya, F. and Whittington, D. (1986) A study of the justification for intensive tick control in Kenyan rangelands. Vet. Rec. 119, 401403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, R. J. and Plumb, I. R. (1981) The effect of natural tick infestation on various blood components and livemass in the bovine in South Africa. In Tick Biology and Control (Edited by Whitehead, G. B. and Gibson, J. D.), pp. 2128. Rhodes University, Grahamstown.Google Scholar