In some ways, humans are similar to lice.
We both despise winter weather and retreat to the warmest person, place or thing during the cold, winter months.
Lice naturally seek fur, hair and hide for temporary comfort and warmth, while humans seek a warm, fuzzy blanket or someone to cuddle up next to.
An animal health expert reminds producers of what can happen when lice latch onto livestock. He also stresses the importance of treating cattle for lice.
AUDIO: Dr. Marc Campbell, Bayer Animal Health
Dr. Marc Campbell serves as field technical services manager for Bayer Animal Health. Dr. Campbell encourages producers to keep an eye out for symptoms associated with lice, particularly hair loss and frequent rubbing on objects.
?When they?re itching, rubbing and scratching, they?re not gaining weight or maintaining body condition. And lice suck blood. When they lose that blood, they have to replace it. Biting lice don?t, but both are a nuisance and cause a lot of damage to the animal and facilities when they?re itching, rubbing and scratching on stuff,? Dr. Campbell said.
Cattle producers should be concerned about both types of lice, as they are ?one in the same.? Dr. Campbell says rest assured, there is a way to treat the irritating insect.
Bayer Animal Health offers a unique product, controlling both young and adult lice.
?We have a new(er) product called Clean-Up II. It?s labelled for both biting and sucking lice,? Dr. Campbell said. ?It?s a great product because it?s a one-time treatment. (With) most lice control products, you have to treat them twice because they just kill the adults. Clean-Up II has an IGR called diflubenzuron, and that kills the lice eggs. So you can kill the adults and eggs in one treatment.?
