Farm Animals

Cattle Tick Control: Welfare and Resistance Management

Tick infestation causes significant welfare problems in cattle worldwide, with resistance to acaricides threatening long-term control.

Key Facts

Cattle ticks cause anaemia, dermatitis, and transmit diseases including theileriosis
Acaricide resistance is widespread in tropical tick populations threatening control
Integrated tick management combining chemical, biological, and genetic approaches is more sustainable
Rotational grazing reduces tick challenge by denying ticks the opportunity to complete their life cycle

Welfare Considerations

Heavy tick burdens cause skin irritation, blood loss, and disease transmission causing significant animal suffering. Resistance management is a welfare as well as economic priority - preserving acaricide efficacy maintains the ability to prevent tick-related suffering.

What You Can Do

Support cattle health programmes including evidence-based tick management
Advocate for integrated tick management approaches over acaricide monotherapy
Choose beef from farms demonstrating responsible antiparasitic resistance management