Lice on cattle looks terrible

[Chasingmytail]

They weren't indoors for long but within that time they picked up something. The vet said it will be fine once they are out in the sun. So we put them out without any treatment thinking all would be well.

Got some fantastic calves but I def cant upload pics onto our FB page as cattle are so patchy and because they are AA look worse. There are clumps of hair all over the place.

I assume they got the lice within the time they were indoors for about 6 weeks - could they have got it while on pasture?

Whats my best option now to either leave the hair to all fall out. Prefer not to treat we are organic so not sure what the treatment is at the mo. If we left it will it become a serious issue?

What prevention for next year? They have mineral buckets, salt licks etc.

 

[Rod Dumbreck]

Do you have other stock in the building they were in?

 

[GTB]

Not ringworm?

 

[Chasingmytail]

Do you have other stock in the building they were in?

no

Not ringworm?

def not

 

[GTB]

Ivomec will soon sort it then. Cheaper brands are available and just as good.

 

[bovine]

Lice is a welfare issue. Need to treat. Generally we don't see them in summer but sunlight doesn't magically kill lice.

 

[Dairyfarmerswife]

https://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/3170215/barrier-livestock-louse-powder-500g barrier louse powder can be used if you are organic, seems to work pretty well.

 

[bovine]

I suspect louse powder is as much use as sunlight.

TREAT them properly with an efficacious product.

Constant itching is a welfare issue. They lose weight.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I suspect louse powder is as much use as sunlight.

TREAT them properly with an efficacious product.

Constant itching is a welfare issue. They lose weight.

I know it doesn't work but why do they sell it?

 

[bovine]

People are stupid enough to buy it and create a demand? You can buy homeopathy and vitamin products everywhere. It's worth billions to the economy people buying things that do nothing. Go and ask a woman about 'detox' - it doesn't exist.

 

[matthew]

People are stupid enough to buy it and create a demand? You can buy homeopathy and vitamin products everywhere. It's worth billions to the economy people buying things that do nothing. Go and ask a woman about 'detox' - it doesn't exist.

Why not ask a man too?

 

[Downser]

I was organic up until a couple of months ago just used to ring soil association and get a derogation to use spot on or one of the cheaper equivalents

 

[ladycrofter]

IIRC I read that lice are there all year but only come down to skin level when it's cold. IMO cattle should be treated at housing.

 

[Chasingmytail]

Im assuming its lice or could it be mites - whats the difference? The vet said it'll be fine when we were TB testing. So now do we ignore her and get them back in to take a sample or automatically get a pour on? Just adds additional work when we could of sorted when they were in also now calving which means having to treat the calves too. Knowing which lice is going to be fun - sucking or biting as reading the link below says injectable better for biting.......Annoyed.

Found this informative - http://www.cattleparasites.org.uk/g... ectoparasites and insect pests of cattle.pdf

 

[sandywil90]

All cattle should be treated which are likely to come into contact with each other. Don't introduce any new cattle to the ones which have been treated as they could potentially bring it in with them. This should be done once housed with something like spot on. Lice is quite a slightly thing and doesn't look good when cattle are looking patchy. Speak with the soil association to get derogation and they can give you more info on which products etc to treat with.

 

[bovine]

Knowing which lice is going to be fun - sucking or biting as reading the link below says injectable better for biting.......Annoyed.

A pour on will kill all lice (unless resistant). Injections only kill sucking lice not chewing lice. Use a pour on. I agree the way it is written is confusing.

 

[matthew]

They weren't indoors for long but within that time they picked up something. The vet said it will be fine once they are out in the sun. So we put them out without any treatment thinking all would be well.

Got some fantastic calves but I def cant upload pics onto our FB page as cattle are so patchy and because they are AA look worse. There are clumps of hair all over the place.

Unless this is ringworm, change your vet. And find out for sure what is causing the rubbing / scratching / hair loss and inevitable distress and weight loss.

Lice is a welfare issue. Need to treat. Generally we don't see them in summer but sunlight doesn't magically kill lice.

@bovine is correct. Lice are an irritating parasite and cattle must be treated as soon as the problem is seen.

I was organic up until a couple of months ago just used to ring soil association and get a derogation to use spot on or one of the cheaper equivalents

Any organisation that promotes itself but offers this solution does not have animal welfare at the top of its list. It's time wasting and leaves your cattle still scritching while you fill in its soothing paperwork.