Farmers urged to vaccinate livestock as tick outbreak spreads

The state veterinary office in Nkurenkuru has warned farmers in Kavango West to vaccinate their livestock against ticks following a reported outbreak of lumpy skin disease in the region.Speaking to the information and communication technology ministry last week, senior animal health technician Eliaser Johannes confirmed that a specific type of tick has been observed in affected livestock."If you find them on an animal, you are likely to see skin deformation, commonly referred to as dermatophilosis. The affected skin appears dry, resembling elephant skin. These ticks are mainly associated with animals that graze along the riverbanks. The condition is more prevalent in these areas and is rarely found inland. When you see an animal with dry skin or white patches, a closer examination will likely reveal ticks with slightly different colours," he said.Be warnedJohannes noted that the presence of these ticks is a relatively new phenomenon in the area, as they have only been observed along the river and not inland."Farmers are advised to deworm their livestock regularly, particularly those near the river, where these ticks are prevalent. I encourage them to treat their animals for ticks at least four times a year or whenever they notice an infestation. These ticks appear to be endemic to the region and have high numbers. There have been cases of animals dying due to this condition," he warned.Although the ticks may not directly kill cattle, the wounds they cause can lead to secondary infections, making livestock susceptible to other fatal diseases."Various remedies are available for tick infestations and I strongly encourage farmers to use injectable treatments," he said."Some parasites are too small to be seen on the skin, and others burrow beneath it, causing hair loss. These internal parasites cannot be effectively treated with pour-on anti-parasitics alone. Therefore, farmers should use injectable treatments periodically or alternate between different tick control methods. This is particularly important for animals grazing near the river, where these ticks are endemic," he added.Proactive farmers Meanwhile, senior animal technician Daniel Simeon from the Ruuga veterinary services office in Kapako constituency said affected farmers have already taken action."If you talk to them, they will say, 'No, we already bought the vaccine and treated our animals,' and they can even show you the bottle or a picture on their phone," he told the ministry officials."They understood the message and acted early. Because if they hadn’t acted in time, their entire herd could have been affected. That’s why, out of five animals, you may now only find two or three affected, sometimes five if the herd is particularly large. This shows that farmers are following up and taking the necessary precautions. They have been calling our offices almost every day for guidance," he said. nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

Farmers urged to vaccinate livestock as tick outbreak spreads

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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Farmers urged to vaccinate livestock as tick outbreak spreads

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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