Methods of Tick Control in A Dairy Farm

Methods of Tick Control

As prepared by Dr. D. P. Bhoite (KVK Baramati - www.kvkbaramati.com)

Tick infestation is one of the major constraint in tropical environment for dairy, Gaot, Sheep & other domestic animals. Tick also spread many parasitic diseases in animals & human beings. Including that it suck blood form animals, so animal may not able to produce well (Milk, Meat etc). It also produce skin diseases. There are major things to be cosidered while controlling ticks- Farmers used to chemical control against ticks but it is unidirectional means they spray insecticide on the body of animals, this will kill ticks or other ecto parasites but could not control ticks or other ectoparasite in hide surrounding/vicinity. Eg: ticks may hide in craks, Crevices in animals shed. It also hide under stone, Boulders, Dampened areas, Waste material places in & around animals shed.

Ticks are very hardy against harsh climatic situations. It is assumed that one tick may lay 1500 eggs per cycle. So consider these things ,farmers should do following things:

• Clean animals shed & surrounding prior to controlling animal ahed. Remove the stubble or waste material which may act as hiding ground for ticks.
• Remove or plaster the craks & crevices of wall of animals shed.
• Remove weeds & stubbles 15 to 20 feets around the animals shed.
• If possibel burn the walls as wellas hiding grounds of ticks with flame gun with proper prwecaution.
• Spray recommended insecticides under the supervision of veterinarian on animal body as well as animal shed on the same day.
• If infestation of ticks is severe then do spaying at regular interwal kile 15 to 29 days up to the control of ticks. Then do these practices of control at regular 3-4 months interval. Specially prior to monsoon & afetr September month (Intiation of winter season).

There are few chemical insecticides which are used in controlling ticks

Trade Name	Content	Class	Concentration in Water
			Spraying on Animal Body	Spraying in Shed
Butox (15, 50, 250, 1 Ltr)	Deltamethrin 12.5 mg/ml	Pyrethroid	2-3 ml/lit	5 ml/lit
Ektomin (15, 50, 1 Ltr)	Cypermethrin 100 EC	Pyrethroid	1 ml/lit	20 ml/lit
Clinar (15, 50, 1 Ltr)	Cypermethrin 100 EC	Pyrethroid	1 ml/lit	20 ml/lit
Tik Kill	Cypermethrin 100 EC	Pyrethroid	1 ml/lit	20 ml/lit
Taktik (50, 250 ml)	Amitraz12.5% w/v	Pyrethroid	2 ml/lit	4 ml/lit
Cythion (250, 500, 1, 5 Ltr)	Malathion 50% w/v	Organo Phosphate	5 ml/lit	10 ml/lit

Do not use Benzene Hexa chloride powder (BHC), DDT for control of ecto parasite as it is banned & not disintegrated for many year in environment.

In organic way, highly concentrated solution of common salt is used to control ticks but it has limited success.