Ticks

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Coopers Spoton will keep ticks off cattle, but needs frequent application over the whole tick season to be effective. This proves a bit expensive unless there is some reason your cattle are at particular risk from tick borne diseases.Such diseeases might include Louping ill and redwater (babesiosis) but these are geographically restricted and even in areas where present are not very often a major problem for cattle. We get lots of ticks on Bute and farmers do not generally do anything specific for ticks on the cattle, though they need to do the sheep. I regularly see ticks on my cattle and am not aware of any harm done.

I had 26 ticks on myself last year, again no harm obvious, though 2 years ago I did have a scare with Lyme disease as a big red target appeared on my left hind leg. I took all the anitbiotics the doctor prescribed, despite the story from the NHS laboratory in Inverclyde that I was more at risk from the side effects of the antibiotics than Lyme disease.

Duncan
Duncan

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Maybe I should get a ticking off for complacency:-)
Do ask you vet or neighbouring farmers if they are aware of any local problems.

Duncan