The Dipmaster

Ticks are among the most economically important external parasites affecting cattle, game, sheep, and goats in South Africa. Ticks are not only important in the warmer regions of South Africa; their economic impact is also significant in the colder, drier regions, such as the Karoo in winter and the Drakensberg mountains, where blue tick species such as Rhipicephalus microplus have adapted to the colder climate.

Their impact goes far beyond tick-borne diseases. Heavy infestations reduce weight gain, lower milk production, damage the hide, immunosuppress animals, cause skin lesions and irritations, cause blood loss, and increase susceptibility to serious tick-borne diseases.

Strategic scientific tick control is much more than a simple preventive routine. Strategic tick control is based on scientific principles; knowledge of the farm; knowledge of parasite-friendly micro-habitats; strategic grazing; knowledge of tick species of economic importance; strategic control of tick species within their unique life cycles; and understanding how to treat the diseases they can transmit.

Strategic, effective tick control is critical to preventive asset management. It serves profitability, animal health, animal reproduction and productivity, and biosecurity.

Why does strategic and effective tick control matter?

Ticks are among the few notorious parasites that can directly affect the health and economic value of farm animals and game. They feed on blood, causing skin irritation, micro wounds for blow flies, and wounds by harmful bacteria.

They can cause anaemia, weight loss, poor body condition, poor reproductive performance, and death. They can transmit diseases such as redwater, anaplasmosis, heartwater, sweating sickness, and other infections. Some species can increase veterinary costs, production losses, and death.

 Uncontrolled tick burdens are known to harm reproductive organs, teats, tails, ears, and, in general, the animal’s health condition. Ticks can compromise fertility and breeding performance. In some cases, there is an increased disease risk where wildlife, cattle, and neighbouring farms interact.

The Dipmaster supports the definition of Strategic and Scientific Tick Control

Strategic scientific tick control means using evidence-based information before blindly applying acaricides or following an ill-founded fixed tick control schedule.

Strategic effective control considers the tick species present, their life cycles, seasonal activity, animal susceptibility, disease risk, grazing system, wildlife contact, climate, and what science-based chemicals to use.

Dipmaster: This approach aims to achieve several critical goals.

• Keep tick numbers below threshold or damaging levels
• Aim to support the development of natural immunity to tick-borne diseases and economic influences.
• Aim to develop over time endemic stability to tick-borne influences.
• Aim to prevent the notion of complete tick elimination. It is unrealistic, costly, and even counterproductive.
• Aim to prevent animals from becoming naïve to tick-borne illnesses.

Dipmaster: Scientific and Integrated Tick Management

Correct tick identification aims to identify the root cause of the problem on the farm. Identifying tick species such as the 1-host blue ticks (R. Microplus, R. appendiculatus) or the various multi-host tick species of importance, such as bont ticks, bont-legged ticks, brown ear ticks, red-legged ticks, etc., will help to determine the correct dip regime, acaricide, treatment, and dip frequency as a strategic preventative program.

A strategic preventative program also includes the following.

• Seasonal monitoring: Knowledge of the life cycles of tick species of importance will assist in planning preventative strategies, preventing damage control in unforeseen, costly outbreaks.
• Strategic acaricide use, according to label instructions, veterinary guidance, and the farm’s tick-risk profile.
• Timely acaricide rotation to prevent resistance to chemical groups and classes.  
• Strategic grazing management in rotational grazing, open waters, controlled bush management, and the resting of heavily infested camps can reduce tick populations and habitats.
• Wildlife–livestock interface management: Game and cattle sharing grazing areas can maintain tick populations.
• The Dipmaster can assist in control plans considering fence lines, watering points, movement patterns, and high-risk contact areas.

Acaricide Resistance and Responsible Chemical Use

Ticks are not the breeders’ greatest risk or problem. Acaricide resistance is.

Resistance develops when ticks are exposed to chemical treatments and pass tolerant genetic values and abilities to the next generation. Resistance to acaricides is caused by underdosing, overdosing, mixing products incorrectly, mixing water-based self-concocting products with oil-based actives, using sun-exposed or expired chemicals, frequent dip regimes, or relying on the same active ingredient year after year. Once resistance becomes established, control becomes more expensive and less reliable.

Scientific tick control requires the accurate identification of the parasite in question, accurate dosing, proper application, clean dipping infrastructure, proper record-keeping, and periodic review of product performance.

Dipmaster: Benefits of a Strategic Tick-Control Program

A strategic science-based tick control program is one grounded in the merits of accurate identification, measurements, interpretation, and evaluation.

It will ensure in

• Improved growth rates, fertility, milk yield
• Body condition, fertility, and reproduction.
• Reduced disease outbreaks
• Lower veterinary treatment and costs.
• Better hide quality and market value.
• Improved welfare
• Resilience to assist all animals to adapt to parasitic challenges and conditions
• Prevention of acaricide resistance
• Safe use of chemicals and the prevention of exposure to them.
•  The sustainable use of chemicals will reduce environmental impact.
• Improved biosecurity where livestock, wildlife, and neighbouring farms interact.