Tick resistance of two breeds of cattle in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to evaluate total tick burden and resistance differences of local indigenous breeds and Holstein-crosses (50%). Longitudinal study method was employed to assess the mean monthly half-body regions of total tick burdens. The mean monthly half body regions of total tick count on local indigenous cattle and Holstein-crosses (50%) were 75.2 and 201.7, respectively. The monthly mean half-body region of total tick count on the Holstein-crosses (50%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the indigenous breed throughout the study months. From 4425 collected adult ticks, Boophilus decoloratus (47.50%), Amblyomma gemma (21.06%), Amblyomma variegatum (18.31%), Amblyomma cohaerens (4.97%), Amblyomma lepidum (3.75%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (2.87%), Rhipicephalus muhsamae (0.79%) and Rhipicephalus guilhoni (0.75%) were the tick species identified in descending order. Among the tick species identified, seasonal variation was observed in four species, namely: A. variegatum, A. gemma, A. lepidum and R. evertsi evertsi. Animal health extension especially on tick control strategy should be in place in order to improve animal productivity.