The effect of two systems of cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) control on tick populations, transmission of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. and production of Brahman crossbred cattle in the dry tropics

Abstract

Strategic dipping and pasture spelling plus dipping were compared with no treatment on Droughtmaster cows and their progeny over 5 years. Average monthly tick counts on the young cattle and their dams were 10 and 18, < 1 and 2, and 56 and 112, for the three treatments respectively. There was stable transmission of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and Anaplasma marginale to the progeny from the untreated cows. Strategic dipping, and pasture spelling plus dipping seriously disrupted the transmission of B. bovis, and vaccination against this parasite is recommended. Pasture spelling plus dipping also interfered with the transmission of A. marginale and B. bigemina but vaccination against A. marginale only is warranted. At 27- 29 months of age the young cattle in the strategic dipping group had gained on average 43 kg/ head more (P < 0.001) than the pasture spelling plus dipping group, and 45 kg/head more (P < 0.001) than the untreated group. Cows in the strategic dipping group gained 35 kg/head more than the untreated group (P < 0.05) and 32 kg/head more than the pasture spelling plus dipping group (P < 0.05). Tick control did not improve the fertility of the cows.