Tick treatment practices in the field: Access to, knowledge about, and on-farm use of acaricides in Laikipia, Kenya

The prevention of tick-borne diseases is a major challenge for livestock production globally. Tick control strategies include the use acaricides, but prescribed do not achieve desired results in several countries, including Kenya. To better understand how tick treatment practices, contribute to reported failures, we assessed owners’ acaricide procurement, level knowledge about acaricides and resistance, they apply acaricides. We also quality commonly available focused on three systems Laikipia County, Kenya: two private ranches; one community ranch whose members communally graze their cattle acquire acaricides; individual owners pastoral communities who individually Through interviews focus group discussions assessed; access knowledge, practices; interview data were triangulated with participant observations (n = 107). analysed nine used determine active ingredient concentration determined ingredients dilutions collected farms. All had chemical control, predominantly amitraz-based. Private ranchers bought amitraz-based bulk directly from manufacturer, while all other agrovet shops. acquired own experiences through experience-based recommendations peers, technical information provided by manufacturers frequently changed brand class. A large majority pastoralists (86%) mixed brands within across classes; smaller (56%) crop pesticides insecticides. Our lab tests confirmed content description labels However, on-farm deviated recommended effective treatment. If too diluted, does kill ticks, promoting resistance development. concentrated, this increases environmental contamination raises public health concerns. Livestock lack understanding functioning compromising effectiveness. widely adopted mixing insecticides serious