Ticks

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:42 pm

Any good remedies for preventing ticks (on the cattle that is not me) ? I use Spot-On for flies and midges, but I'm still seeing quite a few ticks under the front and rear legs and on the udder.

Colin

strawberriesclint · Post by **strawberriesclint** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:25 pm

hi colin

my cattle are also prone to a infestation of ticks so if you do hear of anything you can pour on etc.. let me know.

cyndy

marion · Post by **marion** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:45 pm

Do British ticks carry diseases? They have moved into our area in recent years, and now have been found to be carrying Lyme disease. I found one on me after I had been fencing last week. They should invent something safe for our cows and ourselves. YUK, ticks.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:21 pm

British ticks are mostly Ixodes Ricinus, and they carry a variety of diseases though not all are present in all tick populations.
Lyme disease - affects many species including humans
Louping ill - virus disease of the nervous system, affects mainly sheep, also cattle (and humans but only occasionally)
Babesiosis, or red water, affects cattle
Tick Bourne Fever, affects sheep
Tick Pyaemia, affects sheep weakened by TBF
Q Fever affects many species esp sheep, and humans

I haven't as far as I know had louping ill, or Q fever but after a recent bite reaction (one of six tick bites this year so far) I am completing a course of antibiotics for Lyme disease though the test results show it was unlikely that the reaction was due to Lyme disease. There is evidence of previous exposure though I am unaware of having had any illness due to it in the past.

Duncan

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:04 am

The only ticks I have seen on this farm so far have been one or two per year on the dogs' faces but the B. collies do go out of their way to find ALL the wildlife on the farm.