Bare skin patches on cattle

[Agrivator]

Ringworm, or more likely, Zinc deficiency?

This is a useful summary of the symptoms of various trace-element deficiencies in cattle.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=rangebeefcowsymp

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

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

No inflammation or red skin, just small patches of bare skin. Going to have a close look with a magnifying glass and see if we can spot anything, DE will be the first call, if no improvement then will give the vet a call. It doesn't seem to be bothering any of them really, just the bull who likes to scratch on the barbed wire fence and has scratched his skin in a couple of places.

I really appreciate the replies from everyone, gives us something to work with.

 

[Liiz]

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[Dry Rot]

No inflammation or red skin, just small patches of bare skin. Going to have a close look with a magnifying glass and see if we can spot anything, DE will be the first call, if no improvement then will give the vet a call. It doesn't seem to be bothering any of them really, just the bull who likes to scratch on the barbed wire fence and has scratched his skin in a couple of places.

I really appreciate the replies from everyone, gives us something to work with.

Take a piece of cellotape and dab it sticky side down on the infected area and take that to your vet. He will stick it under a microscope and tell you in a moment if it's lice, mite, etc. Cheaper than a call out.

Most farmers should have a cheap microscope anyway (e.g. a good s/h student mic would not be expensive) and there is always Google to help identify beasties.

 

[dt995]

Vet thought ours was just rubbing on something, not ringworm or lice.

 

[milkloss]

Has anyone ever used a dust bag for applying louse powder? I see they use them in the states quite a bit for flies as well as anything else. Might be easier and cheaper than pour on maybe?