It transmits tick fever and if uncontrolled, can cause serious losses to the cattle industry. The cattle tick favours cattle, but infestations occur on buffaloes, deer, camels, horses and sheep. Cattle ticks may occasionally be seen on donkeys, goats, dogs and pigs. When cattle are heavily infested, ticks can be found anywhere on the body. The main places to look on a lightly infested animal are escutcheon, tail butt, belly, shoulder, dewlap and ear.
Heavy infestations can kill calves and even adult cattle.
Animals in poor condition are especially vulnerable. Previously unexposed cattle become heavily infested until they build up a degree of resistance. Cattle ticks transmit the organisms that cause tick fever, which are serious blood parasite diseases of cattle. This disease, too, can be lethal to susceptible animals. Others may suffer severe loss of condition.