How to Control Lice in Cattle

Cattle lice are tiny insects with flat bodies that live and feed on the animals' bodies. They survive by either sucking blood or scraping material from the skin and hair. While not lethal to cattle, they are bothersome and irritating. Lice infestation can cause reduced weight gain and stress. Dairy cows may see a drop in milk production if the infestation is heavy. Lice infestations tend to be the heaviest in cool weather. Proper monitoring and humane living conditions are key in controlling lice in your cattle.

Things You'll Need

  • Hands-free lighting source
  • FDA-approved insecticide
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select 10 calves, 10 milking cows and 10 heifers every two to four weeks between the months of September and June. Using a headband with a light attached or a hard hat light, inspect each animal. Concentrate on the top of the head, neck, shoulders, back and rump.

    • 2

      Part the hairs with your hands. Examine a 1 square inch area on each of the five body areas. Count the lice you see. Treatment will be required if you observe more than 10 lice per square inch. This indicates a moderate to heavy infestation.

    • 3

      Treat heavy infestations with an insecticide. Parasiticides such as ivomectin, doramectin, moxidectin and eprinomectin offer long-term louse control with just a single application. Other lice treatment products require multiple treatments at specific intervals. Product labels should be followed carefully to prevent any adverse effects to your cattle.

    • 4

      Consider housing calves in outdoor hutches rather than communal pens inside the barn. Because effects of heavy lice infestation can be especially detrimental to the health and vitality of young cows, protecting them is vital to your thriving herd.

    • 5

      Inspect all incoming cattle for lice, especially if your enterprise acquires new additions on a regular basis. New animals should be isolated, inspected and treated if needed. Contamination can occur from cross-fence contact, particularly during the winter months when infestations are at their highest risk.