Cattle Dip for Scabies Control

Sarcoptic mange or scabies in cattle is caused by a parasitic mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis. Cattle acquire the parasite from contact with infected cattle or premises infected with the mites. The mites cause a reportable disease called psoroptic mange that was once endemic in range and feed lot beef cattle in the western states of the U.S. and was controlled by mass dipping, but appears to be making a comeback. It can be treated effectively by spraying cattle with or dipping them in a legally prescribed solution, or by treating them with the drug ivermectin.

  1. Why Dip?

    • Scabies in cattle is not fatal of itself, but it causes intense itching and the animals will scratch themselves until they have open wounds that can cause further problems, such as infestation by fly larvae and bacterial infection. Also, cattle bothered by mites and mange spend time and energy scratching instead of eating and as a result, do not gain weight as fast as uninfested animals. The most compelling reason to dip cattle for scabies is that this is required by law in many U.S. states. The penalties for failing to report and treat the disease, or for moving cattle out of infected premises until they have been dipped, can be severe.

    What Dip to Use

    • A hot lime-sulfur dip is effective against cattle scabies, but it must be mixed in 100-gallon quantities to a concentration required by state law, boiled for 2 hours and maintained at a temperature between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. These considerations make it hard to manage, but efficient for large herds. Other recommended dipping solutions include organophosphate insecticides such as coumaphos. Toxaphene has been recommended by some agencies in the past, but its use is currently banned in the U.S. Some regulations even mention dipping cattle in crude oil to kill external parasites.

    When to Dip

    • Cattlemen should dip their herds when the presence of scabies becomes evident. If scabies is reported in the area, a state agency may require dipping of animals not known to be affected as a preventive measure. Dipping should be accompanied by a thorough sanitizing of all premises occupied by the infected cattle, including barns, feedlots, fences, railroad cars and trucks or trailers, to prevent reinfestation or transmission to incoming animals. Cattle should be watered well before plunge dipping to dilute any dipping solution they may ingest accidentally.

    How to Dip

    • Plunge dipping involves a deep, narrow metal or concrete tank which the cattle must jump into to ensure complete submersion. They then surface and climb out the other end and proceed to a draining area. Stock dipping tanks must be constructed carefully to see that the dipping solution remains clean, temperature controlled and confined from entering the local ecosystem through the water supply. Spraying is less dangerous for the animals (calves have been known to drown in a dip tank). It is effective for small herds, but is more time consuming. Automated spray systems that resemble car washes can be installed in a chute or passageway that cattle walk through going from barn to pasture and back again, stepping on a treadle that activates the sprayers.