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

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.