Now is best time to treat lice in cattle

District vets from the Lachlan Livestock Health and Pest Authority are encouraging landholders planning to treat lice in their cattle to carry out treatment as early as possible this winter.

As winter approaches, cattle lice increase in number and they will continue to reproduce over the winter months until they peak in late winter and early spring.

Lachlan LHPA district vet Belinda Edmonstone says that if you are considering treating your cattle for lice then it is important to get the time right.

"When climatic conditions on the coat of the animal are right – cooler temperatures and long coats – the female will start to lay a lot of eggs," Ms Edmonstone explained.

"As most lice treatments will not kill the egg, if you wait until late in the season when egg numbers have built up you will kill the adult lice only. Then in about three weeks the large number of eggs that have accumulated start hatching and you are back to where you started!

"If you wait until the cattle are really lousy you will either have inadequate control or spring will be approaching and the lice will be starting to die anyway."

Ms Edmonstone says there will always be a debate on whether to treat lice in cattle, as lice may not affect production and growth rate. However, there are some good arguments for the treatment of lice in cattle:

• Treatment improves the appearance of presale cattle.
• Heavier cattle, particularly bulls that are lousy will rub on fences, buildings and trees causing destruction.
• Numbers of lice can really build up in poorer cattle to the point that they are severely affected. This may result in loss of production and an extremely rough appearance.
• The constant irritation caused by lice can be considered a welfare issue.

If you have any questions please called the district vet at your local Lachlan Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) office in Forbes, Young or Condobolin.

Media contact: Suzie Robinson 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378