Prevalence assessment of Ectoparasite (Ticks) on Goats

The rural economy is heavily reliant on goat farming as goats provide small and marginal farmers with meat, milk, and an opportunity to make a living. But farmers lose economically when goats have ectoparasitic infestations caused by ticks; they also lose the goats' health and productivity. This current study assessed the prevalence rate of tick infestation for goats in the Purvanchal region located in Uttar Pradesh India. Four hundred goats of various ages, breeds (breed), and sex were randomly assessed for tick populations based on a visual inspection (using a very detailed physical inspection) and ticks were collected after they were initially found by the visual assessment so they could be identified later using taxonomically standard taxonomic keys. Four-hundred goats were visually assessed (of which half —253 were found to have ticks), therefore resulting in an overall tick infestation rate of 63.25%. This study clearly indicates that tick infestations are a major problem across the entire survey area with a severe ectoparasitic burden on the all of the goats throughout the region and that goats with tick infestations that are in poor body condition eventually experience skin irritations and reduced productivity—therefore resulting in a higher-than-average chance of obtaining a secondary infection. An estimated economic loss due to decreased goat productivity experienced from ectoparasitic-tick infestations can reach thousands of dollars annually for a goat owners. The result of this finding emphasizes the importance of regular surveillance for ticks on goats and implementing strategic tick control programs, providing producers with improved hygiene on their farms, and raising awareness of producers about controlling ectoparasite infestations. Improved management practices will improve the health of goats and the productivity of goats and therefore will ensure that goats can be farmed sustainably throughout the Purvanchal region.