Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate total tick burden and resistance differences of local indigenous breeds and Holstein-crosses (50%). Longitudinal study method was employed to assess the mean monthly half-body regions of total tick burdens. The mean monthly half body regions of total tick count on local indigenous cattle and Holstein-crosses (50%) were 75.2 and 201.7, respectively. The monthly mean half-body region of total tick count on the Holstein-crosses (50%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the indigenous breed throughout the study months. From 4425 collected adult ticks, Boophilus decoloratus (47.50%), Amblyomma gemma (21.06%), Amblyomma variegatum (18.31%), Amblyomma cohaerens (4.97%), Amblyomma lepidum (3.75%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (2.87%), Rhipicephalus muhsamae (0.79%) and Rhipicephalus guilhoni (0.75%) were the tick species identified in descending order. Among the tick species identified, seasonal variation was observed in four species, namely: A. variegatum, A. gemma, A. lepidum and R. evertsi evertsi. Animal health extension especially on tick control strategy should be in place in order to improve animal productivity. Key words: Burden, Holstein-cross (50%), indigenous, resistance tick, Ethiopia.
Highlights
Ticks are globally important in livestock production, because of their economic and health implications (Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004)
That is why about 80.76% of the overall total tick burden differences were observed between the study months (F = 125.95, P = 0.000 and partial η squared = 0.8076)
This finding agreed with Ali and de Castro (1993) who reported that Horro breed carried fewer total tick burdens than Horro X Holstein
Summary
Ticks are globally important in livestock production, because of their economic and health implications (Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004). It has been estimated that about 80% of world’s cattle are infested with ticks (Minjauw and McLeod, 2003). According to CSA (2010), there are about 723,343 heads of cattle in Wolaita of which 3825 are Holstein-crosses. The total cattle population of Wolaita accounts for 7.46% of the Southern Region. Crossbred cattle are being introduced into Wolaita during the working phase of Wolaita Agricultural Development Unit project as a means of milk production to satisfy the protein demand of the human population. Resistance of cattle to tick infestation was reported to consist of innate and acquired components (Wikel and Whelen, 1986)
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