The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-08-06
How to Free Cattle and Pastures
of Ticks.

Prom the bureau OF amman 1ufH1tTYr itfttF1
states Department Of Agriculture Washing
ton, T. ~
There are four practical methods
that may be employed in freeing
cattle and pastures of Texas fever
ticks. /. Picking or brushing off
the ticks. 2. Smearing or spray
ing the animals with a disinfecting
solution. 3. Dipping the "ticky"
animals in a vat containing a solu-
ton capable of killing the ticks
without injury to the cattle. 4. A
systematic pasture rotation whereby
the ticks are eliminated by chang
ing the cattle to one pasture after
another, allowing the ticks to drop
off, and preventing new ticks from
getting ON the cattle.
In sections where there are large
herds and ranches, dipping or
spraying on large scale has been
successfully carried out, either alone
or in conjunction with pasture ro-
tation, wilhelm other sections, where
the cattle on farms consist Of only
q few head, hand dressing with oil
has been found to be the most prac-
teal plan. The methods above sug-
gested, therefore. apply to different
sections of the country, and the
stoekman or farmer should select
the one which is best suited to his
particular case.
Where the herd is small the ticks
may be picked off by hand or scrap
ed off with a dull knife or curry
comb. This should be done at least
three times a week in order to re-
move all the large ticks before they
mature and fall off, as by this sys-
tenn the smaller ticks which Mt first
escape detection will be found be-
fore they are fully developed. After
removal the ticks should be destroy
ed, preferably by burning. Care
should be taken to 60 over the ami
gaals thoroughly, and after once go
y over they should not be neg
ed. as ticks may be picked up
III time to time. If this work is
oughly done and no ticks al
"a to fall off and lay eggs from
to the end of November, the
.le will be free from ticks and
s he pastures clean.
Greasing the animals all over
thoroughly with cotton seed oil. fish
oil, or Beaumont crude petroleum,
will assist in preventing the ticks
from getting upon them and destroy
the ticks already ON them. This
method is practicable when only
few animals are treated. A mixture
of | gallon of kerosene, 1 gallon Of
cotton seed oil, and l pound of sui
phur has proved effective when used
two or three times a week during
the tick season. 1t should be APP
piled with a sponge, syringe, brush.
mop or broom.
Where a large number of cattle
are to be treated, but not enough to
warrant building vat, spraying
has given good results. The neces-
sary equipment consists of a force
pump such as are used by orchard
lists for spraying trees, with bar
rel in a wagon or on a platform and
a hose with an ordinary nozzle. A
20-per cent. emulsion of Beaumont
oil or a five per cent solution of
any of the standard coal tar dips
may be used. The sprayings should
be continued throughout the whole
season and if thoroughly done will
leave the cattle and pastures free
for the following year.
Where a large number of animals
are to be treated, dipping in a vat
Is a convenient and effective meth |
Cd Beaumont crude petroleum is
considered the most satisfactory dip |
and may be used either alone or in |
a 20 per cent emulsion. Animals
that have been dipped in the oil ,es-
pecially during warm weather,
should not be driven any great dis
lance Immediately afterwards, and |
should be provided with shade and |
an abundance of water.
The pasture rotation system of
eradication appeals to many farm
ers and should be followed whenev-
er practicable or conditions will per-
nit. 1t consists in placing ticky
animals in a small pasture for pc
Rod of 20 days. During that time
a considerable number of ticks will /
drop off. Then transfer the cattle
to second small pasture for an