- Title
- Seasonal variations in tick loads, coat characteristics, temperature-humidity index and blood metabolite profiles of extensively raised Boran cows
- Creator
- Ntilini, Wonga John
- Subject
- Boran cattle -- South Africa Ticks -- South Africa
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MAgric
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13471
- Identifier
- vital:39672
- Description
- This study sought to determine the seasonal variations in tick loads, coat characteristics, temperature-humidity index and blood metabolite profiles of Boran cows reared in arid rangelands of South Africa. A total of 20 Boran cows of different age groups were used in this study. Tick counts, hair length, coat score, average temperature and relative humidity readings were measured twice (beginning and end) in each season (post-rainy, cold-dry, hot-dry, hot-wet). Blood samples were taken seasonally (beginning and end of the season) for the analysis of creatine kinase (CK) activity and haematological parameters (HP). Ticks were observed and counted from different anatomical sites, namely anterior (neck, head, ears, and around eyes), ventral (belly, udder, and limbs) and posterior (back and under the tail). The tick species observed from the Boran cows were Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (34.58percent), Amblyomma hebreaum (43.35percent), Rhipicephalus simus (4.48percent) and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (17.59percent). Significant differences were observed in tick burdens at various anatomical sites, with posterior position having the highest tick loads during the post-rainy, cold-dry and hot-dry season. While the ventral position recorded the highest tick loads during the hot-wet season. It was also observed that the cattle had significantly long hair lengths during the cold-dry season. Furthermore, coat score and hair length were observed to be negatively (P<0.05) correlated with tick counts, while coat scores were positively (P<0.05) correlated with hair length. Significant differences were observed in CK activity across season, with higher levels during the hot-dry and hot-wet seasons compared to the post-rainy and cold-dry seasons. Boran cows were exposed to a mild stress condition during the hot-dry and hot-wet season when the THI values were high (>70). Seasonal variations had an effect (P<0.05) on some HP (HB, HCT, MCV, MCH, EOS, and BAS). Neutrophils (-0.267) and basophils (0.268) were significantly correlated with THI. In conclusion, the Boran cows were more susceptible to tick loads during the hot seasons. Likewise, the levels of creatine kinase activity and temperature-humidity index were high during the hot-dry and hot-wet season. Therefore, seasonal variations had an effect on tick loads, coat characteristics, temperature-humidity index and blood metabolite profiles of extensively raised Boran cows.
- Format
- 118 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science and Agriculture
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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UFH Department of Livestock & Pasture Science
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details | SOURCE1 | MSc Agric (Animal Science) NTILINI, W.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |