Genetic selection for tick resistance in cattle reduces disease burden, acaricide use, and welfare impact from tick-borne disease in endemic regions.
Tick resistance is an example of animal genetics and welfare aligning perfectly - selecting animals that carry fewer ticks reduces disease suffering, reduces chemical treatment burden, and benefits the broader environment by slowing acaricide resistance. Breeding programs that incorporate tick resistance alongside production traits in tick-endemic regions make a multi-generational welfare investment. The welfare benefits compound over time as the proportion of resistant animals in a herd increases.