Towards strategic control of ticks in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

The performance of alphamethrin and flumethrin treated and untreated Bonsmara cows and calves grazing in the thornveld of the Eastern Cape Province was compared over a 2 year period. The economically important tick species occurred seasonally but in insufficient numbers to achieve enzootic stability with respect to babesiosis and anaplasmosis. No differences in live mass were observed for the cows, but the untreated calves were heavier at weaning than the acaricide treated group.

An evaluation of strategic and short interval tick control in indigenous exotic and crossbred cattle.

The performance of Nguni, Bonsmara and Hereford oxen which were maintained free of ticks by short interval treatment with acaricide irrespective of tick load (tactical) was compared with similar groups which were treated for tick infestation only when the numbers of adult ticks on the cattle increased to moderately high proportions (strategic). Strategically treated Nguni oxen acquired a strong resistance against ticks and showed weight gains comparable with the tick free Nguni group. Weight gains in the Bonsmara group were higher in the strategically treated group suggesting a possible effect of the acaricide on the tick free group.

A survey of cattle tick control practices in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Current cattle tick control practices and producer attitudes towards tick control in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa are discussed. These were ascertained from answers to a questionnaire survey to which 31.2% of farmers responded.

A survey of small stock tick control practices in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Current small stock tick control practices and producer attitudes towards tick control in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa are discussed. These were ascertained from returns to a questionnaire survey to which 31.2% of farmers polled, responded.

Indigenous and crossbred cattle--a comparison of resistance to ticks and implications for their strategic control in Zimbabwe.

A comparison of the tick resistance of indigenous Mashona and crossbred Afrikander x Sussex oxen following natural tick infestation indicated that significantly more African blue ticks Boophilus decoloratus were found on the crossbred than the indigenous cattle (P < 0.05). The two groups of cattle were exposed to Babesia bigemina and Theileria taurotragi as indicated by high antibody titres on the indirect fluorescent antibody test, but no antibodies could be demonstrated to Anaplasma marginale and T.