Make sure you keep on top of external parasites such as lice in housed cattle. While the focus on winter animal health will be on fluke and worms, as well as respiratory diseases, it is easy to forget about lice.

When you walk through the shed, are there tell-tale signs of cattle scratching their head and neck on feed barriers, or repeatedly licking their flank and shoulders.

Heavy lice burden

Cattle with a heavy lice burden will not be gaining weight. If anything, cattle can lose weight if the problem is severe enough.

Some wormers and fluke products do contain an active ingredient that targets lice, but be aware that the persistency may not be enough to last through winter.

For the most effective application, run cattle through a handling race and apply evenly along the spinal column of animals.

Therefore, a follow up treatment may be needed. In which case, if may be beneficial to use a different product that can be easily applied to the backs of cattle.

For the most effective application, run cattle through a handling race and apply evenly along the spinal column of animals.

It is also good practice to clip the animal’s back before applying a lice product, as skin contact will increase.

Be sure to use a product that covers for biting and sucking lice, as some products only target one version of the parasite.

Clearing cobwebs and applying hydrate lime to the walls, space boards, sheeted tin and roofs can help to cut down lice burdens.

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