two classical approaches to the use 

 of pesticides. 



1. Attempting to overcome the 

 development of tick pesticide 

 resistance, as many countries of the 

 world are doing. 



2. 'Preventing the development of 



tick pesticide resistance as the 

 United States Boophilus eradication 

 program has done. Relative to 

 resistance, pesticides used to treat 

 livestock parasites must be 

 considered as "a non-renewable 

 resource" . 



Good dipping vat management is based 

 on sound, technical knowledge of the 

 pesticide being used, along with 

 understanding the biology of the 

 tick. Guidelines for dipping vat 

 management should be established on 

 the basis of well-designed field and 

 laboratory studies. 



Vat management must be concerned 

 with the safe, efficient, economic 

 use, and handling of pesticides from 

 the time the program receives the 

 pesticide until its final utilization 

 and disposal. Disposal must include 

 proper disposition of the pesticide, 

 original pesticide containers, as 

 well as other contaminated equipment 

 or materials. 



The dipping vat manager must follow 

 specific directions. There is no 

 excuse for failure in tick control or 

 eradication because of pesticide 

 mismanagement. Pesticide use is 

 controlled by State and Federal 

 regulations and laws. Environmental 

 Protection Agency requirements must 

 be considered since non-compliance 

 may result in the banning of certain 

 pesticides which might have critical 

 consequences for the future of the 

 tick eradication program. 



Accuracy is a most important part of 

 good vat management and encompasses 

 all activities relating to the vat 

 including: 



1. Determining the vat capacity. 



2. Charging the vat, which includes 

 filling with water, premixing of 

 the pesticide, and agitation of the 

 charged vat. 



3. Sampling of the dip for 

 quantitative analysis and 

 sedimentation. 



4. Replenishing with water and/or 

 pesticides. 



5. Maintaining accurate dipping vat 

 records. 



When dipping vat activities are 

 performed according to available 

 directions, many dipping vat 

 problems are eliminated. There 

 would be no livestock deaths due to 

 "over-charged" vats, nor would 

 cattle be dipped in pesticides below 

 the prescribed concentrations for 

 killing ticks if official guidelines 

 were followed. 



Vat agitation is the most 

 misunderstood and improperly 

 utilized activity in vat 

 management. Field experience 

 indicates that vats are generally 

 charged correctly; however, absence 

 of a vat-side test for the 

 organophosphorus and organochlorine 

 pesticides has placed added 

 responsibility on the people dipping 

 livestock. Today, the laboratory 

 conducted quantatitive analysis 

 provides after-the-fact information; 

 whereas the vat-side test used in 

 the past with the arsenic dip, 

 provided immediate concentration 

 information before the animals were 

 dipped. 



