How to Control Lice in Cattle
OVERVIEW
Cattle lice may be the most underestimated livestock infestation problem in terms
of economic loss. The USDA estimates that American livestock producers lose
millions of dollars a year to cattle lice. Cattle lice are a problem globally, not just
in the United States. Heavy lice infestations cause lowered milk production, loss
of flesh, stunted growth, general malaise and anemia. Chronic cows may abort
due to louse-induced anemia. During severe winters, louse-infested animals are
more susceptible to respiratory diseases.
SKILL
MODERATELY EASY
THINGS YOU WILL NEED
Magnifying glass
De-wormer applied to the skin
Gloves
Spray on insecticide
Container for mixing and spraying
Dust bag insecticides
Ear tags
Chart
STEP 1
Look at your cattle for large symptoms such as rubbing and clumps of hair
falling out. There can be raw spots from constant attempts to groom or scratch
areas where lice are abundant. Crushed lice and their feces, blood, and serum
from wounds can give cattle heavily infested a greasy appearance. Feeding
by biting lice can produce a skin reaction in which the hair becomes loose.
STEP 2
Examine all your cattle one at a time for lice by looking through the hair of the
head and on the neck, shoulders, back, and rump. Examination of five 1 inch
square areas on the face, dewlap, neck, back and base of the tail of each animal
is the best protocol. Look first for nits. These are the eggs of the lice. After doing
the nit check, part the hair carefully to look for lice.
STEP 3
Buy a skin applied de-wormer from your cattle health care provider. Following the
veterinarian’s instructions and using gloves apply the de-wormer to all your cattle
even those not affected by lice. This will be part of an overall health plan to help
protect the cattle from future outbreaks.
STEP 4
Buy spray on insecticide under advisement of your veterinarian. Mix the powder
according to the directions given to you by the veterinarian or on the package.
Pour into the container of the sprayer. Dose the cattle according to the directions
for weight and age.
STEP 5
Re-check the cattle that were infected 2 weeks after the application the same
way you checked them in STEP 2. If there are any signs of lice, re-apply the
spray on insecticide on the areas infected.
STEP 6
Treat any new cattle coming into the herd as though they were infected. Hang
dust bags from fences between your herd and others to prevent other cattle from
infecting your cattle.
STEP 7
Buy and insert ear tags that kill ticks, fleas and lice for about 1 to 3 months.
Refill dust bags and change ear tags regularly to help prevent infestations.
TIPS:
Make a chart for when you change the ear tags on your cattle and when you re-
fill the dust bags.
WARNING:
Check with the national and state authorities about reporting cattle lice and for
what chemicals are prohibited where you are located.
SOURCE
IPM NCSU EDU: Cattle Lice
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ag369/notes/cattle_lice.html
University of Kentucky: Lice on Dairy and Beef Cattle
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef512.asp