Can integrated crop-livestock systems reduce tick infestation in cattle?

Area of Science:

• Integrated crop-livestock systems
• Parasitology
• Animal science

Background:

• Cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) infestations cause significant economic losses in livestock production.
• Effective tick control is crucial for maintaining cattle health and productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) on Rhipicephalus microplus infestation levels in beef steers.
• To assess the relationship between tick infestation and cattle performance (average daily weight gain).
• To determine the efficacy of ICLS in reducing acaricide application frequency.

Main Methods:

• Four grazing systems were compared: crop-livestock (CL), livestock-forestry (LF), crop-livestock-forestry (CLF), and livestock only (L).
• Angus steers were managed under continuous stocking for three years (2017-2020) in southern Brazil.
• Tick infestation score (IS) was assessed fortnightly, and average daily weight gain (ADWG) was measured every 28 days.

Main Results:

• Animals in CL and CLF systems exhibited significantly lower IS (17.6% and 29.4% reduction, respectively) compared to L and LF systems.
• A proportional reduction in acaricide applications was observed in CL and CLF systems.
• Higher IS was correlated with a greater likelihood of weight loss; intervention at IS=2 is suggested to prevent performance decline.

Conclusions:

• Space-time rotation in ICLS effectively disrupts the Rhipicephalus microplus free-living phase, reducing tick populations and cattle infestation.
• ICLS offers a sustainable approach to tick control, decreasing chemical use without compromising cattle productivity.
• Combining ICLS with selective acaricide treatment is a viable strategy for managing ticks in grazing systems.