title: The impact of tick control on the productivity of indigenous cattle under ranch conditions in Uganda.
abstract: The impact of tick control on the productivity of indigenous cattle was investigated in three herds of East African shorthorn Zebu and Zebu x Ankole (Nganda) breeds, maintained under three tick management systems practised under ranch conditions: twice-a-week dipping, once-a-month dipping, and no tick control. The milk production and the growth rates of pre-weaned and post-weaned calves were monitored once a month over a period of 34 months. Milk offtake was 23% higher during the heavy rainy seasons than in the long dry seasons. Twice-a-week dipping increased the milk offtake by 21% in the second year of study and prolonged the duration of lactation in cows. Similarly, twice-a-week dipping increased the pre-weaning growth rate by 39% in the second year of study, but had no significant effect on the post-weaning growth rate. Generally, the growth rate of calves were greatest during the heavy rainy seasons and least during the long dry seasons. These results provide a basis for assessing the losses under different tick management systems in the various production systems.
authors.affiliation: Livestock Health Research Institute, PO Box 96, Tororo, Uganda.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okello-Onen
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tukahirwa
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nagda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musisi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heinonen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mwayi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opuda-Asibo
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002709:Chlorfenvinphos / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D012621:Seasons; D013983:Tick Control / Q000379:methods*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D002709:Chlorfenvinphos