Cattle Lice

Cattle lice are specific to Cattle and live in the hair coat and on the skin. Some lice are biting lice that feed on skin and others are sucking lice that feed on blood. Lice are usually a winter problem and this winter many people are having problems with lice. The economic impact of lice is underestimated, Cattle that are lousy probably don’t do as well as cattle that are not and cattle can damage fences etc by continually rubbing up against objects to relieve the itch. Cattle with lice have hair loss particularly around the neck and shoulders and look poorly. The life cycle of lice is about one month and all occurs on cattle. The lice lay eggs which stick to the coat, develop into nymphs and then turn into an adult. Usually 1-2% of Cattle in a herd are carriers and this is why lice persist from year to year despite our best efforts. Carriers may be older cows or bulls particularly ones with a longer shaggy coat. The enourmous size of bulls makes it hard for them to groom themselves effectively. Cattle should be treated for lice in autumn and them monthly over winter as required. All cattle need to be treated for effective treatment of the herd Treatment is usually by pour on or injectable insecticide.

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