A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016, with the objectives; to determine the prevalence of hard ticks on cattle and the tick species distribution in Offa Woreda. Out of the total A total of 384 cattle were examined; out of the total 214 cattles were positive with one or more tick species. In the current study anThe overall prevalence of was 55.73% was recorded.There waswith a strong significance difference (p=0.000) between age groups <1year (8.7%), 1-3year (57.27%) and >3year (59.36%). Significantly higher prevalence was reported in extensive management system (61.19%) than semi-intensive (58.33%) and intensive management system (17.24%). In addition, significantly (P<0.05) higher prevalence was recorded in poor body condition (69.33%), compared to medium (57.31%) and good body conditions (46.38%). There was no significant difference between sex (p=0.602), breed (p=0.652) and kebelle (p=0.161). A total of 3726 adult tick were collected from different body part of the animal and differentiated in to four genera; Amblyomma (55.23%), Boophilus (34.38%), Rhipicephalus (8.48%) and Hyalomma (1.91%).The five tick species identified with and their respective decreasing prevalence were A.variegatum (52.3%), B.decolortus (34.38%), Rh. evertsi evertsi (7.7%),Hy.marginatum rufipes (1.91%), A.lepidium (1.48%), A.coherence(1.45%) and Rh.pulchellus (0.78%).The number of male tick collected was exceeding that of the female except in Boophilus decolortus. Different tick species prefers different site of attachment; those were A.lepidium (38.18%) and A.coherence (48.15%) in the scrotum/udder, B.decolortus (68.38%) in the dewlap & head, Rh.ever.evert in the anogenital and undertail, Rh.pulchellus (48.28%) in the anogenital area and H. marg. Rufipes (38.03%) more prefers under tail area of the animal body. Due to the higher prevalence of tick infestation in the current study area it’s important to apply different control strategies to reduce tick infestation in the animal. Therefore, further epidemiological studies should be done on tick in different seasons and in different species of the animal in study area.

Keywords: Cattle; Offa woreda; prevalence; tick species; Wolaita; Ethiopia