One relief we enjoy as the weather gets cooler is the lessening bother of flies and ticks infesting our cattle herds. However, there are some insect pests that are just coming into their prime during the fall and winter. Lice populations increase during these colder months. Bill Doig, former Livestock Specialist with the University of Missouri, recommended some basic operational practices to reduce your risk from these cold weather pests.
In our area two types of lice are common. Both types are very small, generally less than 1/8 inch long. Chewing lice feed on hair, scabs and skin oils. Sucking lice, like ticks, puncture the skin of cattle and feed on their blood. Doig said it is hard to measure exactly how much lice infestation impacts a cattle operation, but, just like all other pests, they reduce the performance of your herd. Lice can weaken cattle, make them more susceptible to disease and reduce their weight gain or maintenance.
Lice lay their eggs, called nits, on your cattle’s hair. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Adult lice live only about two to three weeks. However, during that time, a female will lay around one egg per day. So the population can grow pretty rapidly once it takes hold.
Lice don’t fly at any stage in their lives, so they spread by contact. Doig warned that they can be spread in materials like bedding, but most often the spread is from animal to animal or from facilities where infected animals have been handled.
The most effective approach to managing lice control in your herd is prevention. “It is much easier and less expensive to prevent it than to treat it,” he said. The biggest exposure for most operations is from contact with exposed cattle. This can be from new animals you introduce to your herd, but also can be from contact with cattle across a fence. On average Doig said that one to two percent of the animals in any herd will be host to a few lice year-round. He suggested that new animals be kept isolated for 10 days to two weeks before introducing them to your herd. The best indications of lice infestation are dull hair coat, hair loss and excessive rubbing.
The best approach to preventing lice from gaining a foothold in your herd includes some things already part of your routine and a few things that you can easily add. Doig believes the three best defenses against lice are healthy cattle, broad spectrum pest control and good hygiene. “Lice populations typically decline on cattle that are fed better.” He suggested keeping your cattle fed sufficient energy and maintaining a good insect control program throughout the year will make it difficult for lice to thrive in your herd.
Finally, making sure your working facilities are clean can help prevent the spread of lice. Get rid of old, stale bedding and take the time to clean the facility between groups of cattle. Doig recommended in particular wiping down squeeze chutes and head gates, since these are most likely to contact infected cattle. A quick wipe with a diluted bleach solution can help ward off problems down the road.
