Observation

 

This question was well attempted by the candidates. The candidates’ knowledge of pest (rat and tick) and control in farm animals was being tested. The effects of tick on cattle production, ways of controlling rat and tick on the farm were the areas of strength of many candidates. However, majority of the candidates performed poorly in mentioning other organisms which have similar effects as tick on farm animals.

The expected answers include:

3 (a)   Ways of controlling specimen G (Rat)
-         Use of traps                                                    -         Good farm sanitation
-         Use of rodenticides/baits/poisons/pesticides     -         Use of wire mesh
-         Storage of farm inputs in covered containers
-         Block all openings on walls/floors/roofs
-         Use of predators e.g. cats

(b)      Effects of specimen H (Tick) on Cattle
-         Cause irritation/annoyance/restlessness
-         Are vectors of diseases e.g. babesiosis, theileriosis, heartwater disease, tick fever, anaplasmosis.
-         Injuries from their bites cause secondary infection
-         Bites cause damage to the quality of skin/rough skin
-         They cause anaemia/loss of blood
-         Reduce productivity e.g. growth, milk
-         It can cause lameness
-         It can lead to death

 (c)     Organisms which cause similar effects as specimen H (Tick) on farm animals
-         lice
-         mites/keds
-         fleas
-         larvae of housefly/blowfly                                          
     
(d)      Ways of controlling specimen H (Tick)
-         Good sanitation/farm hygiene
-         Rotational grazing/paddocking
-         Application of acarides/pesticides/dusting/dipping/spraying/pour-on
-         Isolation of infested animals from others/quarantine
-         Hand picking of ticks from the animal’s body
-         Burn infested pasture/grazing lands

          -         Natural control - use of predators e.g. birds