What parasites should dairy producers be on the lookout for during winter months?

Cold weather may slow down pests, but parasites are a different story.

Veterinarians say now is not the time to let up the gas on deworming.

“So, as we move into the winter season, the key external parasites that dairy producers need to be on the lookout for are lice and mange mites. The lice that we worry about, there’s biting lice and sucking lice. The biting lice tend to feed on debris, skin, hair, and secretions that are on the skin’s surface, whereas those sucking lice can attach to the cow and feed on blood. The mange mites typically will live around the tail head and the hindquarters. The one that will see most often, particularly in dairy cattle, is chorioptic mange, and we also sarcoptic mange that can be a bit more severe, but it’s far less common than chorioptic,” said Dr. Jennifer Roberts, a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer-Ingelheim.

Roberts says whatever the parasite may be, they all will have an impact on your bottom line.

Related Stories
Study looks at how triazine chemistry impacts effectiveness against resistant weeds
With fewer young people entering agriculture and farmers nearing retirement, industry leaders warn of challenges ahead while working to keep farming profitable and sustainable.
A late-season freeze in northeast Louisiana has forced farmers to replant thousands of corn acres, adding costs, straining seed supplies, and raising concerns about shifting to soybeans.
March 15 of each year is the application deadline for the Pima Cotton Trust, and March 1 of each year is the application deadline for the Wool Trust. The law mandates trust payments by April 15. More information about these programs is available at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.
Superior Livestock Auctions markets more than 1.7 million head of cattle nationwide while also building long-term relationships between both cattle raisers and beef producers.
The proposal would require farmers’ consent before companies can sell agricultural data

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The American Coalition for Ethanol reacts as the Farm Bill heads to a full House vote — while ethanol expansion, including year-round E15, is left out — as well as the USDA’s pursuit of global markets for ethanol.
Global food prices rose slightly in the latest FAO Food Price Index as vegetable oils, cereals, and meat increased, offsetting declines in dairy and sugar.
University of Arkansas’ Allen Szalanski discusses a news study on rice stink bugs, what it could mean for farmers, and pest management strategies for the future.
Watch AARP Live tonight at 7:30 PM ET on RFD-TV to learn more about ways to reduce expenses and make smart financial choices.
Valley Irrigation’s Darren Siekman explains the advantages of their new pivots for growers managing acreages of up to 60 acres.