Seasonal abundance of ticks associated with indigenous goats on a northern Transvaal farm

Abstract

The 3 most abundant tick species on indigenous goats on a northern Transvaal farm were found to be Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma hebraeum. Three other tick species were present in small numbers. The economical and ecological importance of the ticks found on the goats, mainly in rural areas where chemical control of ticks is practically non-existant, is discussed. The high number of goats in the study area and the shift towards alternative methods of tick control, such as the use of resistant hosts, are important factors in the livestock industry of southern Africa.