Lice in cattle: what they look like and how to get it out, what to do for treatment

Lice is a common problem in cattle, which, in the absence of diagnosis and treatment, causes a lot of inconvenience to animals and their owners. The disease occurs as a result of damage by small whitish insects, dangerous with a high risk of subsequent infection of cows and calves with various viral and fungal pathologies. An animal affected by head lice does not require quarantine conditions, but it is important to treat every head of cattle that has been in contact with the infected.

Causes of head lice in cows

Cows and calves can get different types of lice - adult animals are affected by insects of the Haematopinus order, and calves by the calf louse Linognathus vituli. The most common fleas in cows are:

• short-headed louse - the largest individual of its kind, reaches 4 millimeters in length;
• long-headed calf louse - it is not easy to notice it on the body of an animal, since the louse is only 2 millimeters long;
• The hairy louse is the smallest parasite that infects cattle, males reach a length of 1.5 millimeters, and females - only 1 millimeter.

Infected cows and calves are the source of pediculosis, if parasites are already present on their hairline, which are at different stages of the life cycle. The spread of insects occurs when cattle are in close contact (crowded housing, during mating).

Cattle can also pick up lice indoors if it previously contained infested cows. It is not uncommon for parasites to be transmitted through livestock care products (poor hygienic conditions).

Increased risk of lice in cows and calves during the winter season, because during the stall keeping in cattle, immunity decreases, a lack of vitamins develops, and the skin is covered with a thick cover of wool during this period of the year.In the summer, when grazing, the number of lice in cattle is sharply reduced due to improved feeding, increased immunity, insolation and dry air.

Symptoms of Pediculosis

The louse pierces the skin of a cow, damaging the capillaries, throws a liquid into the wound hole, which interferes with the normal process of blood clotting and contains toxic substances. Due to the constant crawling of lice on the body and massive damage to the skin, animals become aggressive and excited, or, conversely, lethargic. Against the background of severe itching, cattle eat poorly, lose weight, and increase the risk of other systemic diseases.

Cow lice look like wingless dark insects with a thick outer shell, upon closer examination of the hairline in its thickness, you can see white eggs of parasites - nits. They are firmly attached to the coat, it is difficult to remove or shake off nits, they reach a diameter of 1 millimeter, they are more often located on the head, around the neck and horns, tail.The main symptoms of head lice in cattle:

• altered behavior - the cow is worried, can suddenly jump off the spot when lying down;
• trembling all over the body - the animal seeks to get rid of itching, constantly rubbing against walls, fences and other objects;
• loss of appetite and body weight;
• decrease in milk yield against the background of constant itching and stressful condition of cows;
• presence of numerous bites on the animal's skin;
• the appearance of anemia in calves, a noticeable lag in physical development.

In the most affected areas of the animal's skin, areas of eczema and boils, nodules and hemorrhages appear. Prolonged scratching of itchy surfaces on various objects leads to the development of cellular infiltration in the livestock - sweat and sebaceous glands cannot fully function, which affects the work of the whole organism.The situation is aggravated by the fact that multiple pathogenic microorganisms penetrate into the cracks and wounds on the skin of the animal.

Methods for diagnosing a lesion

It is not problematic to detect lice in cows - the diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture (constant itching, scratching and multiple bites on the body of the animal, skin areas without hairline, development of dermatitis). In the thickness of the cow's hair, you can see both the adult lice themselves and a large number of nits. It is important to distinguish pediculosis in cattle from diseases similar in clinical manifestations - scabies, eczema, trichophytosis.

How to get rid of parasites

To solve the problem of lice in cows, complex methods of therapy are used. If there are several infested heads of cattle, the treatment of the entire herd is required, since the probability of infection of the rest of the cattle is almost 100%.

If insecticides are used in therapy, cow's milk should not be consumed by humans and calves - it should be poured out within 5 days after treatment of cattle.

Powders

The most common powder for eliminating lice in cattle is Chlorophos, a contact insecticide. To remove parasites from cows, the powder at a concentration of 80% or 50% must be diluted with water to obtain a 0.5% solution, sprayed, rubbed into the skin or watered every 2-3 days. Pregnant cows, small calves should not be treated with Chlorophos.

Aerosols

The most effective lice sprays are:

• "Ivermek" - the components of the drug help to destroy lice, eliminate itching, pain, accelerate wound healing;
• "Stomazan" - the emulsion should be diluted with water and applied with a spray gun to the coat (from 500 milliliters to 1.5 liters per animal);
• "Butox" - apply the solution with a spray gun, wash off after two weeks, re-treat after seven days;
• "Sebacil" - soak the cow's hairline abundantly, rinse with warm water after five to seven minutes;
• "Cyflunit Flock" - a spray with therapeutic and prophylactic properties. Must be applied along spine for up to a month of lice protection.

Treatment with a combination of sprays with injectable preparations against parasites - Ivermectin, Baymek, Clozatrem - gives a good effect.

Folk remedies

Effective folk remedies for lice:

• rubbing wood ash into the skin for 14 days;
• washing wool with antiparasitic decoction for at least three weeks - insist wormwood in a liter of boiling water, add hellebore water, tar-based soap;
• treatment of lice-affected areas with kerosene and birch tar for 14 days.

The above methods are safe for young calves, do not affect the taste of milk produced.

How to treat the room

The following products with antiseptic properties are used to spray cowsheds:

• sodium hydroxide;
• slaked lime;
• carol;
• Chlorophos;
• tar.

You can use a sulfuric smoke bomb. During processing, cows must be kicked out of the stall.

Prevention measures

The best way to treat pediculosis and then add concomitant skin diseases to it is timely prevention, which includes:

• monitoring the quality of livestock nutrition - it is important to balance the diet, include vitamin supplements in it to strengthen immunity;
• compliance with sanitary requirements in the stalls - regular disposal of manure, replacement of bedding, protection of animals from drafts and dampness;
• periodic treatment with repellents of the favorite habitats of lice - the spine, tail, neck and head of the cow;
• regular treatment of the stall with antiseptic agents;
• scheduled vet check-ups, vaccinations;
• monitoring the condition of the animal's skin and coat, behavior, appetite, weight gain and physical development of calves.

The above measures are not troublesome and expensive, but will prevent, timely detect pediculosis in cattle and choose therapeutic methods in time.

In order to avoid infecting cattle with lice, it is recommended to follow preventive measures, before the stall period or in summer, treat the barn with antiseptic solutions. It is important to diagnose and start treating pediculosis in time, since a massive skin lesion of young calves can lead to the death of livestock.

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