Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Tropical Tick-Borne Disease Welfare

Managing the welfare impacts of tick-borne diseases in tropical cattle production systems.

Key Facts

Theileriosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis are major tick-borne diseases causing welfare losses in tropical herds
Infected cattle show anaemia, fever, and reduced feed intake, often with high case fatality rates
Integrated tick control using acaricides, natural resistance, and pasture management reduces disease burden
Indigenous breeds in tick-endemic regions often have greater natural resistance than exotic crosses

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne disease causes significant acute and chronic suffering in tropical cattle populations, with mortality a significant welfare end-point. Integrated control strategies that combine biological resistance, targeted acaricide use, and pasture management provide sustainable welfare protection.

What You Can Do

Support veterinary capacity building in tropical producing regions for tick disease diagnosis
Advocate for international aid programmes that include animal health and welfare components
Choose beef products from supply chains with documented animal health and welfare standards