Ticks Control in the Cowshed and Earn Extra Income

During the summer season ticks in the shed multiply infesting young calves and cows.

Once on the animal body, these suck not only blood but also transmit parasites if their salivary glands are infected with parasite stages. For example, ticks are a major source of transmission of blood parasites like Babesia, Theilaria, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. These parasites multiply in the blood and cause severe anaemia and other complications, such as enlargement of the spleen, and adversely affect the immune system. In the case of calves these infections cause compromised growth and in the adult hemolytic diseases. Treatment of these diseases requires long-term administration of antibiotics like oxytetracycline, florfenicol, and other drugs. An easy way to prevent these infections is by controlling the tick population. There are several chemicals used to spray and kill these ticks, but these are also harmful to the animal as well as the farmers hence requiring special precautions. Around ten years back, we introduced the concept of loose housing with an open paddock wherein cows or buffaloes take rest in the open-to-sky area built with a well-laid earth floor. We also introduced the concept of tick control by asking the farmers to rear desi poultry birds in the shed. The idea was that the birds will pick ticks in the barn as well as on the body of the animals. The farmers who adopted this model of tick control have reported no tick infestation and blood protozoan parasitic infection. However, we advised them to continue theilaria vaccination. 

 Advantages of tick control  

The birds are free in the barn hence these also scavenge on the feces to pick and eat undigested grains passed in the cow feces. While doing so, they also spread dung which facilitates early drying. The birds also eat a small quantity of leftover cattle feed in the manger. The birds are free during the day whereas during the night they are housed in small poultry houses built within and facing the open cow area. It is also necessary that the birds are routinely vaccinated against viral infections such as Ranikhet and Marke’s Diseases.  

Income Generation through tick control 

In a recent survey, the farmers reported earning good income from the sale of desi bird eggs. On average a farmer rearing 20 cows also rears 25-35 birds, producing an average of 15-20 eggs per day. Several farmers have also tried crossbred birds such as Whiteleghorn and RIR wherein we usually recommend supplementing with extra poultry feed during nighttime. Many farmers in our recent survey reported that their income from birds alone amounted to 20-25% of the total income. 

I hope the veterinarians will advise their farmer clients to adopt this easy mode of tick control. A word of caution, this works extremely well when the cows are freely moving as we have found that tethered or tied cows are aggressive in temperament and resist birds approaching them for tick up.

For models of loose housing read the blog Low Cost, High Comfort Cow Housing Competition Navsari and do visit www.indiancattle.com.In case you wish to discuss with the farmers who have adopted this model, do call us on 9653474847 and we will get you connected. 

Read More: Tick Infestation in Dairy Cattle and its Control

Dr. Abdul Samad

M.V.Sc., Ph.D.

Herd Medicine Consultant