Sustainable parasite control in cattle in Zambia: efficacy and impact on dung invertebrate biodiversity/dung removal
Beynon, S.A.a, Wall. R. b & Mann, D.J.c
a Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS; b School of Biologoical Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UG; cOxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW
(Darwin Initiative funded feasibility study, January 2010. Application currently in consideration)
Report
I have just returned from a fabulous Darwin Initiative-funded visit to
Zambia to assess the feasibility of setting up a research project
looking at the impact of intensive farming on invertebrate
biodiversity. In particular the project would focus on developing
sustainable parasite control in cattle and providing an advice system
to Zambian farmers. In addition, we would work with the Biology Department at the University of Zambia in creating an insect collections for research and teaching. We also hope to work with conservationists at the South Luangwa National Park to provide training to safari guides and local children on the importance of insects in the ecosystem.
Current control for internal parasites and ticks in Zambia consists of treating livestock with chemicals, many of which have been shown to be toxic to dung beetles that would otherwise quickly bury dung. Therefore, dung from treated cattle remains on the surface causing disease spread and a loss of profitable grazing land. In addition, many treatments routinely used have not even been tested for their safety to dung invertebrates. They are used at high concentrations, far more frequently than recommended - in the wet season, cattle are treated twice weekly! It is therefore vital to quantify this potential toxicity and work with farmers in developing more sustainable measures of control.
During the January trip, meetings were held with the British High Commission, the World Bank, the University of Zambia (UNZA), the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS), the African Wild Dog Conservation Project, (AWDC) the Zambian National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Vet-Lab, Zambeef Farming and
Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre. In addition, contacts were established with Seed-Co, The Ministry of Agriculture/Livestock and the African Youth Commonwealth Project.
Zambeef Farming, our main in-country partner has agreed to provide accomodation, fieldwork sites and access to cattle for the study. Professor Richard Wall and I also spent a fabulous week in the South Luangwa National Park, at the superb Flatdogs Camp in order to assess the possibility of using the Park as our comparable pristine site.
During the trip, we carried out a preliminary dung beetle survey at an intensive agricultural site and at an undisturbed site: no dung beetles were collected at the intensive site, whereas traps were full at the pristine site.
We are in the process of applying for full funding for the project which, if successful will start in 2012.
Thanks
We would like to thank all the organisations and individuals in Zambia who gave their time to meet with us during our trip. In particular, we would like to thank Heather and Alastair McLeod (Zambeef Farming, Chisamba), The British High Commission and Flatdogs Camp, South Luangwa Nationa Park for for providing accomodation during the visit.
Links
African Wild Dog Conservation Project (AWDC)
Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre/Trust
Darwin Initiative
South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS)
University of Bristol Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology group
University of Zambia (UNZA)
Zambeef Products Plc
Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)
To view the full-size pictures, please click on the thumbnails below