Cattle tick-borne diseases: study of knowledge and practices among communal farmers in selected areas of the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose significant challenges to livestock farmers, particularly in subtropical and tropical regions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of community cattle farmers on TBDs in Bela-Bela, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 50 farmers, focused on socio-demographic information, TBD knowledge, and livestock management methods. The study found that while 78% of farmers were aware of heartwater and redwater, only 60% had sufficient knowledge to treat these diseases successfully. Terramycin and Swamycin (oxytetracycline hydrochloride) were the most used treatments, although most farmers were unaware of appropriate treatment methods for redwater. In addition to these conventional treatments, some farmers

SUBMITTER: Gaorekwe RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12263713 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature