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BEEF
Symptoms
BULL FERTILITY Meet a producer who has got to grips with barren rates
PAGES 32-33
Mange
Miss Langham says mange, caused by mites, has three main types; chorioptic, sarcoptic and psoroptic mange (see panel). The incidence of bovine psoroptic mange is increasing. In the first half of the 20th century psoroptic mange was the UKs most common form. The prevalence of parasites then decreased to very low levels before re-emerging in 2007. Thomas Tiley, professional services vet at Novartis, says the increase in psoroptic mange is hugely significant, is something the industry is not fully aware of yet and correct diagnosis followed by rapid treatment is vital. Psoroptic mange is caused by the psoroptes mite, a species similar to the mite which causes sheep scab. It is mainly found along the back, shoulders and tail head of cattle, causing severe dermatitis, scabs and itching,says Mr Tiley.
He says the disease, which is common in parts of continental Europe, has recently been reported in the south west of England. This is a clear indication the disease is spreading. More alarming still is the fact this particular strain of psoroptic mange is seemingly caused by a resistant mite which is proving more difficult to treat than the other types. Mange is mainly a problem in winter and early spring, and with the entire lifecycle taking place on the host, transmission is usually by direct contact between cattle. Treatments include injectable and pour-on 3-ML products and permethrin-based pour ons.
With the winter period looming beef producers should be alert to the symptoms of parasite problems.
Lice
Lice are common in cattle and are also spread by direct contact. Biting lice are most common, affecting the neck, shoulders and rump.
Sucking lice will pierce the skin of cattle and suck blood; in large numbers this can cause anaemia. Using a treatment for both lice and mange control ensures complete peace of mind, says Miss Langham. A licensed treatment used repeatedly at four weekly intervals is recommended and farmers should consult their veterinary surgeon for diagnosis and speak to a vet for the most appropriate treatment options. All cattle should be treated on the farm, at the same time if possible, and dosing guidelines should be accurately followed; under-dosing can also lead to the development of treatment-resistant lice.
important for beef farmers to be aware of fluke, as production losses can occur without noticeable symptoms. He also stresses the importance of using a product which will kill the stages of fluke present at the time. If you use a product which kills adults only, you may need to wait up to 10 weeks after housing before the immature fluke have
developed into adults and susceptible to treatment. Any cattle infected with fluke will suffer production losses during this 10-week period; at housing time, it is therefore advisable to use a triclabendazole product which kills all three stages of fluke in one dose. For mixed farms he advises considering dual species flukicides.
Mange types
Chorioptic mange The most common and mild form of mange, caused by a surface mite chewing mainly on hair and skin scales, affecting the animals neck, legs, hooves and tail head Sarcoptic mange Caused by a mite which burrows into the
animals skin laying eggs in small tunnels, affecting the neck area, the loin, the inner thigh and tail Psoroptic mange Severe, causing intense itching; bacterial infections are common and in extreme cases the infected animals can die
Fluke
Another key parasite of importance at this time of year is liver fluke. Mr Tilley says it is especially