Cattle herd shearing can help to control Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Parasitology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Acaricide resistance in ticks like Rhipicephalus microplus poses significant challenges for cattle management.
• Alternative, non-chemical methods for tick control are crucial for sustainable livestock production.
• Understanding host-parasite interactions, including the role of coat characteristics, is vital for developing new control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of shearing cattle as a method to reduce Rhipicephalus microplus infestation.
• To investigate the relationship between cattle coat length and tick burden.
• To assess the duration of the effect of shearing on tick infestation levels.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen taurine cattle were partially shorn on one side, leaving a 1mm coat.
• Weekly evaluations counted adult female Rhipicephalus microplus (>4.5mm diameter) on shorn and unshorn sides.
• Coat length was measured fortnightly; data were analyzed using mixed models.

Main Results:

• Significantly lower tick counts were observed on the shorn side compared to the unshorn side for the first five weeks.
• Hair length was significantly shorter on the shorn side throughout the study period.
• No significant difference in tick counts was found between sides in the final three evaluations as hair regrew.

Conclusions:

• Shearing can temporarily reduce Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in cattle, with effectiveness diminishing as hair regrows.
• The study supports the hypothesis that cattle with shorter hair may experience reduced tick infestation.
• While not practical for large herds, shearing may be a viable option in severe tick infestation scenarios.