Cost-Effectiveness of Acaricide Application Methods against Heartwater Disease in South Africa

Mario J. J. van den Heever, Willem A. Lombard (), Yonas Bahta and Frikkie A. Maré
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Mario J. J. van den Heever: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Willem A. Lombard: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Frikkie A. Maré: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: In an economic sense, heartwater disease is the most important tick-borne disease faced by South African livestock farmers. Methods to control the disease vary among farmers, and the preferred method depends on the prevalence of the disease in a specific area. The cost-effectiveness of different acaricide prevention methods against heartwater disease has not yet been determined amongst South African livestock producers. The study’s objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of acaricide prevention methods used against heartwater disease in South Africa. Data used for this study were collected through a survey and structured questionnaires from 272 commercial livestock farmers in South Africa. Cost-effectiveness analyses were done on the spray, plunge, and pour-on acaricide application methods. For sheep and cattle, the plunge method proved to be the most cost-effective in all provinces of South Africa. In goats, pour-on acaricide application was the most cost-effective. The study recommends that extension activities provide farmers with information with which to choose the most appropriate acaricide application for the effective and sustainable control of heartwater disease.

Keywords: acaricide; prevention methods; spray; plunge; pour-on; sustainable strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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