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Ticks infestation is severe in the western part of Ethiopia and at a conservative estimate one million US $ is lost annually only through rejection of down graded hides and skins attributed to tick damage. Babesiosis, anaplasmosis, cowdriosis and theileriosis are the tick borne diseases known to exist and cause damage on productivity of cattle in Ethiopia. Studies of the ecology are the tool with which we are able to analyze the properties of tick populations and to use that knowledge in the design of more economically efficient tick and tick-borne disease control and eradication strategies. It also provide efficient methods for detecting low levels of tick infestations in association with quarantine procedures. They also reveal why tick control becomes much more difficult when tick numbers on the pasture are reduced during eradication programs. Knowledge of tick seasonal dynamics enables us to design the control strategies to suit different breeds production types of cattle in different environments. The management plan designed for Jimma zone southwestern Ethiopia where the mainstay of the people is coffee and livestock production.

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Dr. Abebaw Gashaw born in Debre Markos Ethiopia, studied DVM in Leipzig University, Msc and PhD in Georg August University Goettingen, Germany. He is an associate professor and teaching in college of Agriculture and Veterinary medicine of Jimma University, Ethiopia. His research interest is diseases of Cattle and Tick and tick born diseases.

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