Communal Farming

Ectoparasites or external parasites, such as ticks, mites, mosquitoes and lice, can cause major financial loss to livestock farmers.

External parasites can carry lethal diseases such as Rift Valley fever and redwater. In the case of severe infestation, the animal will go off its feed, and this may cause an entirely new set of problems linked to shortfalls in nutrition, a particular worry in pregnant or lactating females.

• Sheep scab mites

Sheep scab is an irritating, itchy skin condition that causes the sheep to bite or scratch itself, damaging its wool in the process. It is therefore crucial to inspect your flock regularly. If you see any sheep behaving in this way, inject it with a solution that controls the condition. Your local farmer supply store will be able to advise you.

Administer a follow-up treatment after a week, as the initial treatment may not kill scab mite eggs, which will hatch out later.

• Mosquitoes

These can cause bluetongue, leading to major financial loss. Try to graze sheep away from areas containing stagnant water during the rainy season or summer months, as mosquitoes are usually abundant there. Drain any stagnant water near your handling or housing facilities.

If mosquitoes are evident, spray the sheep with a fine dip solution every 10 to 14 days or so, particularly around the open face, legs and ears. (Make sure it’s properly mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.)

Vaccines to prevent the prevalent strains of bluetongue are available, but ask the supplier about the dangers associated with these during certain stages of livestock pregnancy.

• Ticks

Many farmers don’t have plunge dip facilities to control ticks, but a more modern back-line dip can be used on cattle and meat goats instead. This is poured onto the animal from between the ears to the end of the tail.

With sheep and Angora goats, carefully sit the animal down and apply 1mℓ (or the amount advised by the manufacturer divided by five) of the pour-on under each axilla (armpit) and under the tail, where ticks are likely to congregate.

Never use traditional plunge dips; the high concentrations of toxic active ingredients in them have been known to kill livestock if used as a pour-on.

• Lice

Dipping is also effective against lice infestation. If goats and cattle start rubbing against walls, trees or other objects, this is a sign that lice are present. The animals may become so infested that they start losing hair from the continual rubbing against objects.

Never use a traditional plunge dip as a pour- on; it can prove fatal to the animals

Wool sheep can also be infested with lice, and the injectables used for scab may not work against these pests. You might need to use a spray or plunge dip known to be effective against lice on sheep. In severe cases, dip again seven to 10 days later.

alt ernatet he dips and rotate your grazing

Dipping should take place at the change of seasons, and particularly when going into spring or summer, when rain will cause a large increase in the numbers of parasites such as ticks. Try to alternate or change the dips you use every two years or so to prevent the parasites from becoming resistant.

Only use dips listed for the species of animal you own; concentrations of poisons in cattle dips may be higher than those in sheep and goat dips.

Some dips can also be harmful to birds, bees and aquatic life. Be careful where you dip and where the dip run-off may end up. Some modern dips have been formulated so as to not be dangerous to birds; enquire about these when buying a dip.

Rotational grazing, where certain veld areas are left without livestock for a month or two, can help reduce tick and other pest populations. This is because the lack of an animal host in the region can disrupt the life cycles of some external parasites.