IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 14, Issue 9 Ser. I (September 2021), PP 19-25 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-1409011925 www.iosrjournals.org 19 | Page Effect of Tick Control on Milk Revenue of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Kapseret Sub-County, Kenya J. K. Bett 1 *, I. M. Nkari 2 and S. W. Munyiri 3 1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Chuka University, Kenya. 2 Department of Business Administration, Chuka University, Kenya. 3 Department of Plant Science, Chuka University, Kenya. Abstract Milk production is a viable economic enterprise in Kenya. It supportsthe livelihood of approximately four million Kenyans through food provision, income generation and employment. However, milk production per individual animal in Kenya, averaging seven to nine litres/cow/day, is low compared to the world’s best at 10,133 litres/cow/year (28 litres/cow/day). This means that Kenya produces an average of 20 litres of milk less per cow per day compared to the world’s best. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tickcontrol on milk revenue of smallholder farmers in Kapseret Sub-county. The study was conducted between the months of January-March, 2020. Primary data was collected using closed and open-ended questionnaires.Karl Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to show the strength of the relationship between the variables. Multiple regression model was used to assess the effect of tick control on milk revenue. Results were presented in tables, and descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies. The results indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship (r=0.263 & p=0.007) between tick control and milk revenue.Tick control practises essentiallyimpacted cows’ health, which further influenced the level of milk revenue. The study concluded that tick influenced milk revenue of smallholder dairy farmers in Kapseret Sub- county.The study recommended that smallholder dairy farmers need to be trained on the best and timely prevention measures of east coast fever. The government can encourage tickcontrol practicesby offering subsidized acaricides.This is mainly because cows’ health has direct influence on production. Keywords: correlation, east coast fever,milk revenue, smallholder farmers, production. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 01-09-2021 Date of Acceptance: 15-09-2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Global food security, sustainability of food production and consumption greatly depend on how livestock production is managed as one of the majorsources of food [1]. The world’s dairy sector is fast growing and is projected that milk production will increase by 177 million tonnes by 2025 [2]. However,[3] states that the world’s exports of dairy products are forecast to reduce by four percent in 2020, which would likely mark the sharpest year-on-year decline in three decades.The average daily milk production in most dairy farms in Kenya is estimated to be averagely six to seven litres per cow per day, however, this is approximately 70% lower than the level of production of cows in the developed countries [4]. This level of production in Kenya is low compared to world’s average best of 10,133 litres per cow per year (2 8 litres per cow per day) [5]. With improved management and better feeds and feeding practices, the production potential could be much higher than the milk currently produced per cow per day in Kenya [6]. Milk production stands at 5.2 billion litres and is projected that milk production will be at 7.9 billion litres by 2022 despite high expectation of a shortfall[7]. There is need, therefore, to find mitigations of solving the expected shortage. According to [8] animals that produce milk should be healthy and have an effective health care programme in place. Global trade, increase in population and related growth in milk production have contributed to redistribution of pathogens, vectors and infected hosts because of increased international trade in live animals [9]. Ticks are considered one of the biggest public health and veterinary problems in the world especially in animal production that affect milk production in dairy cows [10].In Kenya,east coast fever is the main tick-borne disease affecting dairy cattle, forming 41.3% of the total disease in smallholder farms [8]. The main challenges facing the control of the disease include inadequate capacity for sustained disease surveillance and control programs and poor enforcement of existing laws governing disease control[11]. Some of the effects of ticks on animals include stress and weakening of the animal’s immune system, losses in milk production, indirect economic losses related to prevention and control costs, increased morbidity and mortality [12]. The objective of the study, therefore, was to determine the effect of tick control on milk revenue of smallholder farmers in KapseretSub-County.