Tag: lice

Managing Lice Infestations on Beef Cattle

Posted on by Jessica Graham

Controlling horn fly populations on your operation is imperative to maintaining healthy and productive cattle. However, horn flies are just one of the many insects affecting beef cattle. Lice infestations can lead to reduced weight gain, lower milk production, and increased discomfort and stress for your cattle during the winter months.

Types of Lice Affecting Beef Cattle

  1. Biting Louse (Bovicola Damalinia bovis)
  2. Sucking Lice:
    • The Short-nose Cattle Louse (Haematopinus eurysternus)
    • The Long-nose Cattle Louse (Linognathus vituli)
    • The Little Blue Cattle Louse (Solenopotes capillatus)
    • The Cattle Tail Louse (Haematopinus quadripertusus)

Common Lice Infestation Sites on Beef Cattle

Lice infestations on livestock can vary depending on the type of animal and the specific lice species involved. However, there are common sites on cattle where lice are more likely to be found due to warmth, moisture, and suitable hiding places such as the neck and shoulders, back and tailhead, around the head and ears as well as the legs and underbelly.

General Lice Behavior

  • Lice are host-specific
  • Lice remain on the cattle
  • Lice typically spread through direct contact between cattle
  • Lice populations build in the winter and fall in the warmer months

Dangers of Lice

  • Discomfort and irritation
  • Skin damage and infections
  • Anemia
  • Impact on reproductive performance
  • Spread of diseases
  • Economic impact

Signs of Lice Infestations

  • Agitated livestock including signs of restlessness and discomfort
  • Loss of hair or sores due to scratching
  • A greasy appearance
  • Weight loss or reduced growth rates

Integrated Pest Management for Lice

Integrated Pest Management for lice relies on strategic biosecurity practices to help eliminate lice on incoming cattle and following appropriate insecticidal treatments and guidelines. Lice only survive on the cattle and eradication of the lice population in your herd is possible.

Treat all incoming animals (or animals returning from stocks shows, breeding leases, etc.) with an appropriate insecticide pour-on or spray and follow the retreatment guidelines. If using a spray application, thoroughly wet the entire animal focusing on the crevices and areas that could serve as refuge. Most insecticide treatments require a second treatment 10 days after to target lice that have hatched since the initial treatment was applied. When treating the animals, also consider applying an insecticide treatment to any frequented loafing areas such as any housing or shelter.

A good rule of thumb is to treat in late fall before lice populations begin to build and again in early spring. If continually mixing in new animals, more frequent treatments maybe necessary if the incoming cattle are not left in quarantine until they have been fully treated for lice. Quarantine areas should not share fence lines with the home cattle. Lice unfortunately do not respect fence lines and lousy cattle could infect clean cattle through fence line contact.

Keeping your livestock protected from pests like lice is essential to running a healthy, productive, and profitable operation. Starbar® Products offers a range of lice control solutions tailored to meet your specific needs.

Starbar® Pour-On Product Solutions

Cattle Armor™ 1% Synergized Pour On

To tackle lice effectively, Starbar® products offer proven solutions. Cattle Armor™ 1% Synergized Pour-On is a dynamic pour-on insecticide that sets itself apart from competitors thanks to its oil-based formula. The oil-based formulation helps it stay on longer and penetrate through the hair coat better than water-based product.

Cattle Armor™ 1% Synergized Pour-On is a versatile solution for controlling lice on cows. Apply this product directly to the animal’s back as a pour-on or use it in a spray mist or back rubber application, making it ideal for various settings.

  • Broad-Spectrum Control: Cattle Armor™ 1% Synergized Pour-On is formulated to tackle both flies and lice, ensuring that your cattle are protected from both common pests in one application.
  • Easy Application: The flexibility of application methods allows you to choose the best approach for your specific operation, whether you prefer direct application or using a back rubber.
  • Synergized Formula: The synergized formulation enhances the product’s effectiveness, ensuring longer-lasting protection.

Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On

If you are looking for a product that delivers multi-faceted control, Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On is an excellent choice. Featuring multiple active ingredients, this pour-on provides defense against a variety of pests.

By controlling lice, Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On helps ensure the comfort of your beef cattle, leading to more efficient production and protecting your bottom line. While other products may require retreatment by day 10, Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On’s insect growth regulator effects ensure that one treatment for your beef cattle is all you need.

  • Multi-Pest Control: Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On is effective against chewing and sucking lice, horn flies, ticks, horse flies, and deer flies. This makes it an all-in-one solution for managing the most common and troublesome pests.
  • Long-Lasting Protection: Its potent formula includes a larvicide, diflubenzuron, removing the need for a follow-up treatment, allowing for one treatment for season-long control of lice. Inhibidor™  Insecticidal Pour-On offers prolonged protection, reducing the frequency of
    reapplications and ensuring your cattle are consistently protected.
  • Ease of Use: Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On can be applied as a pour-on or as a spray depending on the target pest.

Prolate/Lintox HD™ Insecticidal Spray & Backrubber for Livestock

For those who need a rotational option to pyrethroid/permethrin products, Prolate/Lintox HD™ Insecticidal Spray & Backrubber’s design is to provide exceptional control over horn flies and lice in livestock.

Prolate/Lintox-HD™ insecticide is a liquid product for livestock that when diluted and used as a spray or in a backrubber, helps provide effective treatment of horn flies, lice, mange mites and ticks on cattle.

  • High-Performance Formula: Prolate/Lintox HD™ Insecticidal Spray & Backrubber is a reliable solution for controlling horn flies and lice, ensuring your cattle remain free from these pests.
  • Versatile Application: Whether you’re applying it as a coarse spray or with a back rubber, this product delivers effective results.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: The formula ensures that every application provides your cattle maximum protection.

Effective fly control is essential for maintaining the health and productivity of your cattle. With the range of Starbar® topical products, including Cattle Armor™ 1% Synergized Pour-On, Inhibidor™ Insecticidal Pour-On, and Prolate/Lintox HD™ Insecticidal Spray & Backrubber, you can confidently tackle the challenges posed by flies and lice. These products offer reliable, easy-to-use solutions that can be adapted to your specific needs, helping you keep your cattle comfortable and healthy throughout the year.

Central Life Sciences

3 Ways to Avoid Pausing Lice Control Success

Posted on by Weicks-Webmaster

3 Ways to Avoid Cold Weather Pausing Lice Control Success

Unlike summertime vectors, you won’t hear the buzz of lice’s presence; however, you will see the impact they can have on your herd during wintertime.
“Lice are top of mind as temperatures start to drop in most areas,” says Nick Wagner, DVM, Professional Services Veterinarian with Neogen. “Lice complete their life cycle, including the developmental stages, entirely on the host animal and tend to be more prevalent during the cooler months of the year.”
While lice can be present year-round, it is during these winter and early spring months that lice thrive, due in part to the longer hair coats cattle have. “Lice populations often increase during the winter months due to the host animal’s hair providing additional insulation from cold temperatures,” shares Warren Rusche, PhD, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Feedlot Specialist at South Dakota State University. “Management practices can also play a role in the increased incidence of lice during winter.” 

Understanding Lice and Implications on Herds 

In just days to weeks, the life cycle of lice can be completed. Transmission is most common from animal to animal; however, it is possible to be spread through other sources, such as grooming equipment (an important reminder come livestock show season). Cattle are affected by both chewing lice and sucking lice; both can impact cattle across the world. Five species of lice are found on cattle in North America: short-nosed cattle lice, long-nosed cattle lice, little blue cattle lice, cattle tail lice, and biting lice.
 “The chewing lice consume hair and scaling skin whereas the sucking lice consume blood,” shares Dr. Wagner. “Lice can be present on the skin surface at the base of the hair; they also have a predilection for the face, neck, shoulders, back, and tailhead of the animal.”
Lice cause irritation, itching, and crusting of the skin as well as hair loss, resulting in detrimental impacts on performance and health, with heightened risk for disease challenges due to heavy infestations and blood loss. “If the disruptive nature of these pests results in variations in the nutritional intake patterns of growing cattle, this could significantly impact daily gains and increase their susceptibility to disease. Therefore, it is quite evident the significant impact that this can have on the profitability of your herd,” says Dr. Wagner. 
With implications on both health and rate of gain, University of Nebraska and other studies indicate heavy lice populations may reduce weight gains by as much as 0.21 lb./day.

3 Lice Control Best Practices for Success

1. Keep active ingredients and mode of action at the forefront when considering insecticide options.
 When selecting an insecticide, consideration should be given to the active ingredients and their mode of action. Further, it is important to also consider that insecticide resistance may be present in ectoparasite populations in various geographic locations. Therefore, a chemical control strategy that rotates between classes of insecticides is recommended. Selecting a formula that includes an insect growth regulator (IGR), such as diflubenzuron, will also kill louse eggs before they hatch, minimizing handling, time, and labor costs.
2. Follow treatment protocols and ensure proper dosage.
Work with your veterinarian to help you develop an effective lice and insect control program for your operation. “It is critically important to follow treatment procedures closely to maximize treatment effectiveness against lice,” Rusche says. Additionally, keep in mind the importance of proper dosage and read product labels thoroughly. “Regardless of product choice, dosage must be adequate for the size of animal being treated. Under-dosing could result in insufficient control and cause other animals in the group to be re-infested,” adds Rusche. 
3. Consider cold weather syringeability to make administration easier and more effective. 
Colder weather can impact how easy or difficult an insecticide can be syringed or dispensed. This can cost producers additional time spent on labor and increases chance of under dosing. Choosing a formulation with proven cold weather syringeability and an easy-to-use syringe is key for your operation. Products such as Prozap® Protectus™ Pour-On Insecticide—IGR along with the Prozap 30 mL Pour-On Applicator have proven to be 36% easier to squeeze in below-zero temperatures and can refill up to seven-times faster than the market leading pour-on with an IGR.1
“With a better understanding of the common ectoparasites that target cattle, producers can develop and implement effective integrated pest management control programs specific to their operations to protect those hard-earned assets,” encouraged Dr. Wagner. “Dedicating the necessary attention to ectoparasite control will pay dividends.” 
To learn more, visit neogen.com/prozap or contact your Neogen representative. 

About Neogen

Neogen Corporation commits to fueling a brighter future for global food security through the advancement of human and animal well-being. Harnessing the power of science and technology, Neogen has developed comprehensive solutions spanning the Food Safety, Livestock, and Pet Health & Wellness markets. A world leader in these fields, Neogen has a presence in over 140 countries with a dedicated network of scientists and technical experts focused on delivering optimized products and technology for its customers.
Media Contact:
Aimee Robinson, Senior Marketing Manager – Livestock
arobinson@neogen.com
References: 

1Data on File, Neogen

Here is an informative article on the stress cold can have on cattle, check it out!

Cold Stress In Cattle

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