The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-04-01
Livestock Industry
Eradication of scabies in Cattle.

pl1oQ TO WldC Is Ill reality SCdulSo VI
mango in cattle. Some call it range
ITCH" others say it is simply cattle
itch, and still others call it Texas
itch" The proper name is mango.
The disease is quite prevalent in por-
lions of the western range, and meth
DDS for eradicating it have been given
by different authorities, but the best
and most practical is dipping. Scabies,
or mango, of the OK is contagious
disease caused by a parasitic mite.
There are two classes of this mite, but
they are much alike and similar treat
ment may be prescribed for either.
The one which most frequently affects
cattle lives on the surface of the skin
and gives rise to great irritation and
itching by biting. 1t is most frequent
upon the sides of the neck and
shoulders, at the base of the horns
and at the root of the tail. From
these points it spreads to the sides
and may invade nearly the entire body.
Its principal manifestations are more
or less numerous pimples, emulation,
and abundant scaling off of the skin,
falling out of the hair, and the for
nation of dry gray-brownish scabs.
In the course of time the skin becomes
thickened, stiff, wrinkled, and acquires
the consistency of leather. The ami
mails lose flesh and become weak and
anemic, rendering them less able to
withstand the attacks of the disease.
When in this condition the more rapid
MULTIPLICATION of the mites is favored.
The mite which causes cattle itch or
mango is closely related to the mite
which causes sheep scab They are of
a different variety, however. The
sheep scab mite will not attack cattle,
nor will the cattle mite attack sheep
or other animals. The mite is able to
live a long time after dropping off
from the body of the animal, and for
this reason care must be had in treat
ing stock that every mite is destroyed.
They live best in dark, damp places,
and exposure to bright sunlight will
kill most of them, but while they are
on the body of the animal they are not
likely to die.
Scabes do not appear to affect cattle
that are doing well on grass nor attack
those animals over three years old and
in good condition. The animals that
suffer the most, or that are the most
susceptible to the ravageS Of Scab1eS,
are calves, yearlings and two-year-olds,
as we'll as those in poor condition. The
first symptom of the disease is usually
an intense itching of the skin about
the neck or shoulders, and it extends
more or less rapidly, according to the
condition of the animal, along the back
and sides and down the outside OF the
legs. 1t does not usually affect the in
side of the legs or the skin OF the
abdomen. This variety of the mango
is the most common and does the most
damage. The other variety is confined
almost exclusively to the tail, espe-
cially at the base of the tail and upon
the depressions on the back part of the
crop If the animal is in very poor
condition and treatment for the disease
is not resorted to, the tail mango may
spread to other parts of the body, but
this seldom occurs. Any remedy that
will destroy the more common form OF
the mango will readily destroy the tail
mango.
The most common form of the mite
adheres to the skin of the animal,
sucking the blood and lymph of the
skin by means of it's mouth organs.
1t is greater in size than the tail
parasite, it's general form being round
ed or egg-shaped. 1t can be seen with
the naked eye upon dark surfaces. The
head is elongated and pointed. The