Lice and other parasites are not uncommon of four legged critters. Ranchers have been pouring (delousing with a pour-on method) cattle for decades. Recently, they have backed off a bit, not wanting kill every bug, including the good ones. That being said, there comes a time when cattle need to be deloused.
The bare rear-end of blackie is a telltale that she's got some invasive bugs that aren't good. When you start to see bare spots on cattle from rubbing, like on their neck, they need attention. Traditionally, you'd pour cattle twice a year, at branding and shipping. Maybe guys still do. In a feedlot, everything gets poured once it gets off the truck.
Ivermectin is the delouse of choice. Only having two and not 200, we didn't want a big jug. Dad found this little guy and figured out the right dose for our 600-700lbs calves.
So we walked them in the pen.
With no choice, they took the turn into the tub.
Once they hit the dead end of the squeeze chute gate, we poured the goods on them.
Mission accomplished.
Most problems on the ranch are easily solved if caught early. These two will continue to do fine. Probably worth getting on an annual delousing routine. Spring and fall sounds like a reasonable approach. Ranch and learn.
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