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. Pyrethroid products are likewise available in pour-on, spray and dust forms. The newer pour-on avermectins listed above give producers another tool in controlling lice. Because of their high cost, they would typically be used in young cattle where their excellent stomach worm control characteristics along with their ability to control external parasites would make their use economically advantageous. Regardless of the product or route chosen, lice control should be a priority for all beef cattle producers during late fall and winter when lice populations begin to increase.