Efficacy of Derris acuminata Bentham for Tick Control in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Tick causes great economic loss to the dairy industry through poor body condition and reduced milk yield. Using chemical acaricides, a standard method for controlling ticks in dairy cattle leads to resistance development and environmental degradation. Therefore, this study assessed Derris's (Derris acuminata Bentham's) effect on tick control as an alternative to chemical acaricide in cattle. The study was conducted in Khatoed Block, Gasa district, Bhutan. A total of 60 dairy cattle (31 Jersey crosses and 29 Brown Swiss crosses) were randomly sampled from 9 households for the study. The powdered roots of derris were used as treatments at concentrations of 7.5%—treatment 1, 10%—treatment 2, 12.5% —treatment 3, and control with 15 animals each through 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Overall, the mean number of ticks was 50% or more in dairy cattle assigned to control than the treatments (p<.05) during the entire study period. Therefore, we recommend derris as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical acaricide to control ticks in cattle.