LICE ON DAIRY STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 3

LICE ON DAIRY STOCK

CURATIVE TREATMENT. During the winter months, and in ■ early spring, dairy stock often become infested with lice. This is encouraged by an unthrifty condition, or by leaving their covers on for too long a , period. The lice are of the blood-sucking variety, and if some action is not taken to destroy them, the vitality of the cow will be considerably lowered, and it will take her well into the early summer to recover normal health. Young stock are more susceptible than are older animals. Tiic lice first appear on the neck and shoulders and fasten their eggs, or nits, to the hair. Their presence may be suspected when the cow begins rubbing persistently on posts or trees, and if the case is bad, the hair will come out in patches, leaving a very rough skin. Any of the following treatments will give satisfactory results, the strength of the mixtures being regulated to suit the age of the animal. (1) A kerosene emulsion is made bydissolving half a pound of soap in one gallon of soft water brought to the boil. When dissolved, add one and a-half gallons of kerosene and churn this by using a spray pump or other means, until a thick, creamy emulsion is formed. The strength to use at is one part of emulsion to 15 or 20 parts of soft water. Apply with a spray pump or brush. Be sure to get well up inside t’ne legs and around the udder. (2) Mix half a pint of kerosene and lib. of lard and, apply along the back bone and oilier auected parts. The heat of the body will spread the mixture evenly over the skin. Raw linseed oil can be used the same way. (3) Nicotine sulphate 40 per cent sprays are good, as they have more control over the eggs and nits. Use at the rate of loz. of nicotine sulphate to i I to .7 of a gallon of water. Apply with j a spray pump or brush. i