Cooler weather brings a greater risk of lice. The USDA estimates that U.S. livestock producers lose $125 million each year to it. Protecting cattle includes understanding the life cycle of lice, recognizing the potential damage and using effective methods of control. If not controlled, a single adult female in September can result in approximately 1 million lice by January.
Source: Beef, September 8, 2016.
Two types of lice live on cattle: sucking lice and biting lice. Sucking lice feed on the host’s blood and are most often found along the top line of an animal’s back, but also can spread to the poll and tail head. Biting lice, which ingest skin, hair and scabs, are more widespread on the body. One species of biting louse and four species of sucking lice infest cattle in the U.S.
INSIGHTS: Don’t forget the second treatment! Traditional treatments involve a two-step process: First, treatment to kill adults and nymphs on the animal, followed by a second treatment three weeks later to kill adult lice and nymphs that hatched from eggs after the first treatment.