Ticks pose a formidable challenge to the livelihood of livestock farmers. But fear not, proactive measures can turn the tide against these bloodsucking nuisances. Dr Caryn Shacklock, Howick laboratory manager for Afrivet Technical and Training Services, shares effective tick control strategies and meticulous wound management practices.
Ticks have a significant impact on the health and well-being of livestock in South Africa. Tick-borne diseases such as redwater and heartwater are some of the most impactful livestock diseases in the world and they play a large role in farming economics. Ticks themselves can also cause a lot of harm to animals through damaging bites.
A severe tick infestation can lead to anaemia and even death in livestock animals. A single engorging female tick can consume between 1 and 5ml of blood depending on the species. Young animals with heavy tick burdens are especially at risk of debilitating blood loss and growth retardation.
Certain tick species secrete toxins that can paralyse animals or cause diseases such as sweating sickness in calves and Karoo paralysis in sheep.
Damages tick bites cause
Tick bites can also compromise wool and hide quality and certain tick species such as Amblyomma spp (Bont ticks) have very large mouth parts that damage the skin significantly.
These bites can become infected, leading to abscessation and fly strike. These ticks also attach between the claws of small stock and can result in footrot and severe lameness. Many ticks that cluster together to feed, for example, the brown ear tick in the ears of cattle, cause enough damage to the skin to cause the loss of the pinnae (ear flap).
Bont tick can damage the teats and udder of a cow causing loss of milk production to the detriment of her suckling calf. It is therefore imperative to control the number of ticks present on an animal in spring and summer times to prevent these deleterious complications.
Tick control methods
Tick control products can be applied in various ways.
To control brown ear ticks, for example, it is best to use a product such as Eraditick Plus pour-on that can be applied to the top of the head and base of the skull, or products such as Eraditick 250 or Ecobash in a plunge dip with the animal’s head being submerged under the water.
Spot treatment with a hand sprayer to the udder and groin areas will ensure that bont ticks are controlled, and a dip in a foot bath will kill ticks that attached between the claws of cattle and sheep.
Eraditick Grease can also be used for spot treatment in ears, the groin, or between the claws. An injectable ivermectin (Ecomectin 1%) is also useful to control blue ticks and prevent fly strike.
Effective wound management
Wound management is very important to control infection and to prevent irreversible damage to ears, udder and hide.
Antibiotics need only be given to an animal if infection of the wound is apparent – this would be indicated by the presence of a purulent discharge, redness around the wound, and swelling.
Otherwise, a topical wound spray, such as Futaspray, can be applied to the wound to clean, disinfect and promote wound healing. Expel aerosol spray contains wound healing and antiseptic ingredients as well as deltamethrin to control screw-worm and blow-fly strike.
Tick bite abscesses and wounds can cause unnecessary pain, infection, and production losses in livestock. Prevention is most definitely better than cure so staying on top of tick numbers and managing skin wounds timeously is imperative.
READ NEXT: Rising stars of agriculture to meet at Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
