TOWARDS STRATEGIC CONTROL OF TICKS IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH-AFRICA

The performance of alphamethrin and flumethrin treated and untreated B onsmara cows and calves grazing in the thornveld of the Eastern Cape P rovince was compared over a 2 year period The economically important t ick species occurred seasonally but in insufficient numbers to achieve enzootic stability with respect to babesiosis and anaplasmosis. No di fferences in live mass were observed for the cows, but the untreated c alves were heavier at weaning than the acaricide treated group. Marked ly lower numbers of ticks occurred on the calves than on the cows. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to planning al ternative tick control strategies for the region.