Bare skin patches on cattle

[BobTheSmallholder]

I'm helping out with some cattle and quite a few of them have some itchy looking bare patches around their shoulders and sides. Some don't seem bothered by them but a few have been scratching at them.

What causes this? Is it some kind of mite or lice? How can it be treated considering the farm is in Organic conversion so limited options 're. Pour-ons etc.

Pictures are of the big bull, he seems to be the worst

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Lice

 

[Sharpy]

@davieh3350 used diamatious (incorrect spelling) earth IIRC.

 

[dt995]

We have one calf with a couple of bare patches, they are on opposite sides of her neck though, and only on the one animal so I'm thinking maybe she just rubs on something. Vet's out for TB testing next week though so we'll ask her then.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

We have one calf with a couple of bare patches, they are on opposite sides of her neck though, and only on the one animal so I'm thinking maybe she just rubs on something. Vet's out for TB testing next week though so we'll ask her then.

We initially only saw it on a couple of animals and thought they were just rubbing on posts etc but it's got worse the last week or two.
Will try the DE and let you know.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Further questions:

Where do the lice come from? Could they come from the straw we use as bedding?

Will cold kill them off? We've not had more than a light frost this year.

When using DE do you just rub a bit into the cows fur?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Further questions:

Where do the lice come from? Could they come from the straw we use as bedding?

Will cold kill them off? We've not had more than a light frost this year.

When using DE do you just rub a bit into the cows fur?

From the straw or hay

 

[Agrivator]

Do you have a magnifying glass? You will detect life if there are mites or lice present.

 

[le bon paysan]

I'm helping out with some cattle and quite a few of them have some itchy looking bare patches around their shoulders and sides. Some don't seem bothered by them but a few have been scratching at them.

What causes this? Is it some kind of mite or lice? How can it be treated considering the farm is in Organic conversion so limited options 're. Pour-ons etc.

Pictures are of the big bull, he seems to be the worst

Get a derogation from the vet and treat them properly with an ivermectin

 

[Blaithin]

Should be easy enough to see lice. Peel back the hair and check the withers, middle back and tail head.

There usually tend to be carrier animals that have more lice than others. Bulls can be more severely infected because of their poor hygiene as well. DE and sulphur can work however generally they need to be massaged into the hair well in order to make it to the skin. You can’t just sprinkle it on top. It would also need reapplied to get the larvae and eggs once they become adults.

In my research I’ve run into a couple of sources that say a deficiency in Vitamin A can make them more susceptible to heavy infestation.

 

[milkloss]

I've seen in the states they hang bags of dust for the cattle to rub on to prevent flies/lice, is this something done in the uk? We have treated twice for louse using a pour on but it creeps back and cows/calves are getting itchy again.

 

[davieh3350]

Get a derogation from the vet and treat them properly with an ivermectin

that is nasty sh!t that stuff, kills earth worms where their shite lands. The diatomaceous earth and sulphur (50 50 mix) works really well.

 

[davieh3350]

Should be easy enough to see lice. Peel back the hair and check the withers, middle back and tail head.

There usually tend to be carrier animals that have more lice than others. Bulls can be more severely infected because of their poor hygiene as well. DE and sulphur can work however generally they need to be massaged into the hair well in order to make it to the skin. You can’t just sprinkle it on top. It would also need reapplied to get the larvae and eggs once they become adults.

In my research I’ve run into a couple of sources that say a deficiency in Vitamin A can make them more susceptible to heavy infestation.

I used to rub it in, then i just stood in a pen and threw handfuls over them, cover them head to tail and on their sides, even done it whilst they stand at a feeder in a field and done it, in a stock trailer too. its cheap enough to do that loosing some on the ground doesn´t hurt.
(try not getting it in your eyes, it´s fine shell, its jaggy, works by piercing the lices skin so they de hydrate, it scratches your eyes and the cows)

 

[goodevans]

Get a derogation from the vet and treat them properly with an ivermectin

They look like biting lice as opposed to sucking lice to me so ivermectin wont touch them,it needs a product like spot on I think

 

[Dry Rot]

Not ringworm? Coopers Louse poweder used to be good but only licensed for housing now. I asked my vet about this and she just winked at me. Now what could she possibly mean?

 

[le bon paysan]

They look like biting lice as opposed to sucking lice to me so ivermectin wont touch them,it needs a product like spot on I think

Ivomec does biting lice as well as sucking lice.

 

[goodevans]

Not what our vet says and also from experience it doesnt

 

[yellowbelly]

she just winked at me. Now what could she possibly mean?

Looks like you're on a promise

 

[Cowgirl]

There is always the possibility of chorioptic mange, or forage mites. Or just a scrape - doesn’t look inflamed. Ask your vet.

 

[Whitepeak]

Sorry to hijack. We've a young bull, just turned 2, who has what appears almost like a rash along his underside. It's on his side along his belly chest, armpits and around his the bottom of his thighs and hocks. It starts off quite crusty, then flakes off leaving a bare patch which does grow hair back, it doesn't appear to be bothering him too much as he's not itching. Any ideas what it could be? We've never seen anything like it. He's the only one in the shed like it. We are hoping to sell him this spring so ideally don't want him losing too much hair.