Author Topic: Itchy cows (Read 1966 times)

trish.farm · « **on:** March 26, 2016, 02:23:35 pm »

My Jersey girls are REALLY itchy, have rubbed themselves bald in places. Have had a good nose around in their coats and skin and cant see any lice etc. Could just be where it has been very warm in the day time and they haven't lost their winter coats yet. Due to calve in 4 weeks so don't really want to be shoving loads of medication on them. Any ideas?

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2016, 04:16:24 pm »

I rub linseed oil on their backs and gently brush them down with a soft hand brush, mixed in with citronella, and that usually helps keep the lice/mites at bay which are in the hay they eat; it also helps the skin. I hope this helps

fsmnutter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2016, 08:17:15 pm »

Get the vet to do some samples. Mites are too small to see with naked eye so best to get professional to check what's going on.
Rubbing themselves bald doesn't sound like healthy itching because it's warm. Any bugs would be best treated with an effective product before it gets worse, causing them to break the skin and get infections, or before itching puts them off their food which could be catastrophic near calving.

landroverroy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2016, 09:52:30 am »

Our cattle get this every winter if kept inside, and sometimes the donkeys do as well. I believe it's mites from the straw. Treatment with pour on wormer gets rid and gets them wormed as well ready for turn out.