Assessing the economic and logistical benefits of using the Tickoff system to control external parasites
The Assessing the economic and logistical benefits of using the Tickoff system to control external parasites project investigated using the Tickoff system to treat extensive beef herds for buffalo fly. The study was part of the project Implementation of Producer Demonstration Sites to increase research adoption and practice change in the Kimberley and Pilbara, set up to support northern beef producers to demonstrate, develop and adopt priority research technologies to sustainably increase profit and productivity.
Summary
Internal and external parasites, particularly buffalo fly, cost the northern beef industry $20-30 million a year. Treating buffalo fly infestations can be difficult in extensive northern grazing enterprises due to difficulty of accessing cattle during the wet season. The Tickoff system is currently used in South Africa to remotely treat cattle herds and wild game for external parasites such as ticks and flies. It was proposed by the Kimberley Beef Research Committee to trial the system in Western Australia to determine whether cattle could be effectively treated for buffalo fly during the wet season, without the need for holding cattle in yards for extended periods. Unfortunately, when used with Supona to treat buffalo fly, the system did not deliver accurate dosages (based on 50ml for every 150kg liveweight) when tested in a simulated treatment. The overall efficacy of the treatment could also not be assessed as climatic conditions were not conducive to large buffalo fly populations for the duration of the trial. As a result, the Tickoff system is not considered appropriate for use in extensive beef herds.
When: 1 December 2010 to 28 February 2013
Contact: Anne Marie Huey
Collaborator: Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentWestern Australia
More information
For more details, please read the Implementation of Producer Demonstration Sites to increase research adoption and practice change in the Kimberley and Pilbara; PDSWA002 Asessing the economic and logistical benefits of using the Tickoff system to control external parasites final report summary and download the final report (B.NBP.0619 Part B) (PDF, 1.7 MB) from the Meat & Livestock Australia website.