The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-10
HOW TO FREE CATTLE AND
PhsTURfE[' OF TICKS
(From the Bureau Of Animal Indus+r,
United States Department of Agri-
culture, Washington, D.. CO

and pastures of Texas fever ticke.
CD Picking or brushing off the ticks.
CD smearing or spraying the animals
with a dls1nfectin solution; CD dippiur
the "ticky" animals III a vat contain
ing a solution capable of killing +ba
ticks without injury to the cattle: az
a systematic pasture rotation whereby
the ticks are eliminated by chancin~
the cattle to n pasture after anoth-
er, allowing the ticks to drop off. ana
preventing new ticks from getting ON
the cattle.
In sections where are large herds
and ranches, dipping or spraying on
a large scale has been successfully
carried out, either alone or in con
Junction with pasture rotation, while
in other sections, where the cattle l,
farms consist of only a few herds.
hand dressing with oil has been found
to be the most practical plan. The
methods above suggested, therefore.
apply to different sections of the
country, and the stockman or farmer
should select the one which is best
suited to his particular case.
Picking or Brushing off the Tick.
Where the herd is small the ticks
ma be picked off by hand or scraped
off with a dull knife or currycOmb.
This should be done at least three
times a week in order to remove all
the large ticks before they mature
and fall off, as by this system the
smaller ticks which at first escpas de-
lection will be found before they are
fully developed. After removal the
ticks should be destroyed, preferably
by burning. Care should be taken
20 go over the animals thoroughly.
and after once going over they should
no. be neglected, as ticks may be
picked up from time to time. If this
work is thoroughly lone and no
ticks allowed to fall off and lay eggs
from June i to the end of November.
the cattle will be free from ticks and,
the 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 upon them. This
method is practicable when only a few
animals are to be treated. A mix
ture of 1 gallon of kerosene, / gallon
c~otton-seed oil, and 1 pound of sui
phur has proved effective when used
two OF three times a week during the
tick season. It should be applied
with a sponge, syringe, brush, mop or
broom.
Where a larger number of cattle
are to be treated, but not enough to
warrant building a vat, spraying has
given good results. The necessary
equipment consists of a force pump
such as is used by orchardists for
gon or on a platform and a hose with
IN ordinary nozzle. A 20 per cent.
emulsion of Beaumont oil or a S
per cent. solution Of any Of the stand
ard coal-tar dips may be used. The
spraying should be continued through
out the whole season and if thoroughly
done will leave the cattle and pastures
froo for tho follnuino wear
Dipping in q Vat.
When a larger number Of animals
r to be treated, dipping in a vat IS
a convenient and effective method.
Beaumont crude petroleum is consid-
cred the most satisfactory dip and
may be used either alone Or in a 70
per cent. emulsion. Animals that have
been dipped in the oil, especially du~
ing warm weather, should not be
afterwards, and should be provided
with shade and an abundance of wa
ter.
Pasture Rotation.
This system Of eradication appeals
to many farmers and should be toll
lowed whenever practicable or con
dition will permit. It consists IN
placing ticky animals in a small pas
ture for a-Deriod Of 20 days. Du~
ring that time a considerable number
of ticks will drop off. Then trans
fer the cattle to a second small pas
ture for another 20 days, and If all
of the ticks have not dropped off.
to still another pasture. IT the full
time has been used, 60 days will have
been consumed and the stock is then
ready to be placed on tick-free pas
ture. The object of moving cattle
from pasture to pasture at intervals
of 20 days is to cause all the ticks to
drop off and at the same time to pre-
ven the animals from becoming In
tested again with young, or seed
ticks. Twenty days is less than the
time within which the seed
ticks will appear from ggs laid by
ticks that drop off, and all of the
ticks present on the animals will ave
dropped off in the 60 days. The
young ticks, when Matched, will starVe
if no cattle + present in the pas