If cattle do become infected the guarantee provides free product to retreat them and a handling fee for readministering the products. Cattle that are thought to have become reinfected must be so certified by a veterinarian. Historically, even when cattle were treated for lice as a group in the fall, there has been a concern about reinfection. Producers have either retreated cattle routinely mid-winter or observed them closely for reinfection and treated if signs of infestation occurred. These new products will hopefully allow cattle producers to forego this mid-winter treatment.
Lice infestations result in production decreases in cattle.
The most common cattle lice are blood suckers that also irritate cattle. Irritated cattle scratch themselves in pens, mangers, etc. causing damage to their skin, unsightly hair loss and damage to facilities. In severe cases young calves may become ill and even die if infestations become severe enough. Systemic organophosphates are popular because of their pour-on convenience. They are also available in spray, back rubber and dust forms.