Communal farmers and tick control--a field study in Zimbabwe

Intensive dipping of cattle to control ticks and tick-borne diseases precludes development of endemic stability to the latter. Alternative control strategies have been recommended which reduce the frequency of dipping and permit the expression of tick resistance and endemic stability. However, such strategies imply acceptance by cattle owners of higher tick burdens. In this study the views of a group of communal farmers to tick control are described and the impact of these views upon adoption of other strategies is discussed.