Paper long abstract:

Knowledge sharing platforms targeting to improve livestock farming practices including animal care and disease management, are part and parcel of livestock herding communities. Related to disease management, such as tick borne diseases, vast scientific and extension services literature exists on procedures of preventive and curative care as audio, text, and visual information interventions. Digital platforms for knowledge sharing may contribute to improving local disease management practices. Such knowledge sharing platforms strive to solve technological challenges, information access problems and language barriers of end users. Combining both science and contextual knowledge, including end-users' knowledge and experiences are key considerations to take into account

Tick control thrives on appropriate tick treatment, facilitated by access to tick treatment means such as acaricides, application equipment (spray races, pumps and knapsacks) and the knowledge to correctly use these inputs for optimal treatment results under complex everyday contexts. Based on our study of tick control knowledge and practices of different stakeholders in Laikipia county (Kenya), we show the importance of considering both technical and local knowledge on ticks and tick management, combined with insights from people's contextual experiences. The main research question is: what ticks, tick borne disease and tick management knowledge do stakeholders involved in tick management need and use in their everyday practices, where do they get this knowledge from and what knowledge gaps for effective tick management can a knowledge sharing platform address?

Based on interviews and focus group discussions as well as on field research to assess cattle owners' understanding of basic tick biology and tick treatment choices, it was found that different stakeholders indeed start from different kinds of knowledge for deciding upon (different) management practices. Tick treatment choices are informed by stakeholders' perceived efficacy and lived experiences with different tick treatment products (acaricides). There were noticeable differences in stakeholders' understandings of tick biology and on the working of acaricide active ingredients.

Agrovet shops are identified as important information nodes in such a platform as they already play a central role in both sharing knowledge and suggesting practices for effective tick management. It is concluded that a tick knowledge sharing platform to integrate both technical and local knowledge of tick control would be of great relevance to improve disease management in livestock.