The potential dairy farm circumstances impacting on tick and tick-borne diseases control in Mbale and sironko districts, Uganda

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in smallholder dairy farms in Mbale and Sironko districts, Uganda to understand the farmer's circumstances under 4 grazing management systems and 3 agro-ecological zones (AEZs), as a basis for planning a longitudinal study. A three-stage stratified sampling methodology was performed at district, farm and animal levels. A structured and closed questionnaire was administered in a total of 102 farms that were randomly selected. The major animal health problems on the selected farms were evaluated. The study identified about 10 major farm level management practices or risk factors that could impact on tick and tick-borne diseases and their control. These are the Age; sex and breed of animals; tasks and responsibilities of household members; source of water, distance and frequency of watering; major dry season feeding strategies; access to professional service; farmers’s knowledge of the problems caused by ticks and tick-borne diseases; interactions between animals; measures to control ticks and tick-borne diseases, methods and frequencies of application; categories of animals treated with acaricides; and access to professional service. The profile of these risk factors in different grazing systems and AEZs were assessed and the possible reasons for the unsustainability of tick and tick-borne disease control strategies are discussed. The impact of these risk factors on the productivity of cattle and household income will be determined during the longitudinal study. Consequently, appropriate intervention measures will be developed to alleviate
these constraints.