Arid Zone, Pastoralist Producers

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Typical Problems In This Area

1. Due to the uneven distribution of rainfall during the year, there are times when grazing is in short supply and animals suffer from nutritional stress.

2. Although overall stocking rates may be low, these can be locally high around watering points and bomas.

3. Coenuriasis and hydatid are common.

4. Worm burdens often build up slowly and coupled with poor feeding lead to a chronic condition.

Features Of The Area That Can Help In Control

1. Transmission is seasonal and a significant portion of the year is too dry for worm larvae to survive on pasture.

2. When inhibited worms are present, drug treatments can be efficiently targeted at these.

3. Overall stocking rates are very low.

4. Larvae do not survive long.

5. Most stock kept are of indigenous, worm-resistant breeds.

Control Methods That May Be Useful

· Frequent observation of individual animals and treating only clinical cases.

· Seasonal, treatments can be targeted at:

times of peak infection.
inhibited worms.
chronic infections.

· Keeping local breeds of animals rather than exotics can lead to higher production at lower treatment costs (Genetic Resistance).