Tick-borne diseases can wreak havoc on a livestock farmer’s operations. In this episode, we delve into the essential topic of controlling tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis in cattle, through pasture rotation.
We are joined by Kenneth Malatji, an experienced animal health technician, and Dr Caryn Shacklock, a specialist in livestock epidemiology and laboratory manager, to discuss how pasture rotation can help reduce the prevalence of diseases in grazing systems.
Rotational grazing, a sustainable farming practice, involves strategically moving livestock between different camps or sections of grazing land. “Pasture rotation fosters a healthier, more productive ecosystem,” Malatji says.
Managing vegetation
He explains that rotational grazing allows vegetation to recover while limiting the time animals spend in one area. This approach disrupts tick life cycles by reducing the opportunities for ticks to attach and breed on livestock.
“Farmers can practice rotational grazing even though it might be challenging. If we work together as communities, it can be possible,” Malatji emphasises.
In addition, vegetation management plays a crucial role in tick control. “Ticks like dense, warm, moist vegetation,” Shadlock explains, advising farmers to graze non-target hosts like sheep before introducing cattle, to further keep vegetation under control.
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- Sustainable grazing is key to livestock success
- Optimise your pastures: A guide to effective rotational grazing
Seasonality also affects tick control strategies, with ticks being most prevalent in South Africa during the warmer, wetter months of spring and summer. Farmers must plan their grazing schedules around these periods to avoid exposing livestock to high tick loads.
While initial infrastructure costs for fencing and water points can be high, the long-term benefits of improved pasture quality, better livestock nutrition, and reduced disease transmission can outweigh these costs.
“So if a farmer can afford to invest in fencing, water points, possibly shelter, and can accommodate the higher stocking density that he will need to implement to leave part of his farm without cattle grazing for a certain period of time, then there is definitely a benefit to rotational grazing in terms of the quality of the feed that’s produced on the pasture and parasite control,” she says.
In this episode, they also discuss:
- How seasonality also affects tick control strategies;
- The long-term benefits of rotational grazing and more.
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