RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ECTOPARASITE INFESTATION IN CATTLE IN BALI LGA, TARABA STATE

Retrospective study o Ectoparasites Infestation in Cattle in Bali LGA was conducted to determine the distribution of ectoparasites among different sex during wet and dry seasons. Data were obtained from records of cases of ectoparasitism reported to federal polytechnic Bali veterinary clinic, and the data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics (simple percentage) to show the percentage of ectoparasites cases. Result showed that ectoparasite (Ticks, mites and lice) were identified as common parasites of cattle, ticks were the most common ectoparasite found infesting cattle with 64.6% 0ut of the total cases and 24.7% and 10.5% for mites and lice infestation respectively. Result also showed ectoparasitism is more during the wet season (41.36%) than dry season (29.64%) which is attributed to high humidity and optimum temperature for hatching eggs. Female cattle are more vulnerable to ectoparasite infestation than male with the percentage prevalence of 55.0% and 15.9% respectively. Conclusively, the presence of this ectoparasite should be considered a grave danger to livestock industry following their role in disease transmission and may cause a serious economic loss in cattle production and productivity; it is therefore recommended that ectoparasites control measures should be put in place by the farmers in collaboration with government agencies that are responsible were necessary. Further research to assess the impact of these parasites on the health and production performance of domestic animals is recommended.