A Survey of Acaricide Use in the Control of Ectoparasites by Livestock Farmers in Sub Urban Accra, Ghana

Abstract

A total of 17 acaricides were identified in 77 small holder livestock farms in suburban Accra during farm surveys to identify acaricides being used by livestock farmers. It comprised Pyrethroids, Amidines and Organophoshates. A survey of Veterinary shops in the project area showed the presence of 12 of the listed chemicals. All the acaricides showed no FDA stamp probably because of batch authorisation. LC values were also not explicitly shown on the acaricides. The Pyrethroid, Drastic Deadline, was patronised by the livestock farmers more than any other acaricide as 32.5% of the farms used it. This was followed by the Amidines, Amitraz20, used by 19.5% of farmers. This high level of variety is dangerous as it could lead to acaricide resistance, resulting especially from improperly managed tick control at the farms.