Paralysis ticks

8 posts
Sun, 10/21/2012 - 10:09 #1

Member for

12 years 1 month
Ippetklo
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/21/2012 - 09:54

Paralysis ticks

Hi

We have a farm in Homeleigh Kyogle Norther New South Wales. We are running Angus cattle and have 30 head plus calves. Recently we have lost 3 cows due to paralysis ticks. One of these being diagnosed by the vet the others we assumed fell to the same fait. We have now commenced spraying cow and calves with Amitic weekly. 

 I also note that there are ear tags available which we are considering.

We would appreciate advise / suggestions from any members as to weather this is the best solution or any preventative recommendations.

Apprecite your help.

All the best Peter

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Mon, 10/22/2012 - 18:09 #2
margohayes
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/16/2011 - 09:19

Peter,

Another breeder I know also lost some cattle this week to paraylsis tick. The LHPA also issued a warning in August that the incidence of paralysis tick in cattle and sheep was exceptionally high and will be until December. As well as spraying other strategies including keeping the cattle away from dense scrub. Once an animal is sick spraying will be too late. Vets can administer antitoxins.

The NSW DPI website has a list of products that you can use to spray and also the name of the ear tags. 

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/health/specific/cattle/ticks/chemical-control-paralysis-ticks-cattle

 

Regards

Margo Hayes

www.lowline.com.au

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Thu, 10/25/2012 - 20:12 #3
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Peter,

I agree with the previous answer there is a lot of good info. on the DPI website. There is another slightly off beat long term solution that may help also. Guinea Fowl eat ticks. Acquiring a dozen or so will slowly clean the paddocks of them. In my area, Cattle tick is a major Problem. Years ago there was a big tick problem on my property. In desperation, on the advice of an 'alternative lifer' friend we bought some Guinea fowl.

After several years of having them in the paddocks ticks are now a rarity here. Of course you will never get rid of them entirely because bandicoots, kangaroos and other animals travelling through, including snakes and goannas, will drop them in the paddocks, but they do help to reduce the tick burden in the paddocks. When the guinea fowl breed up and you have a surplus, they taste pretty good too.  

Guinea fowl eat the seed ticks off the grass in the paddocks and I have noticed them jumping up and taking them off the cattle too. If you decide to get some you will need to confine them for a couple of weeks and feed them chook food everyday so they get used to coming when you call them. That way they will stay around the property and won't leave for greener pastures.

Cheers,

Barb  

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Mon, 10/29/2012 - 10:49 #4
Ippetklo
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/21/2012 - 09:54

Many thank Margo and Barb

Many thanks for the advice very much appreciated. As we only come to the property at the week ends it was good to arrive without any further losses. We will keep up the spraying for a while as suggested.

Very interested in the Guinea Fowl but is it possible to have them if we are away from the property during the week. Do they need to be penned at night. Further we have had issues with while dogs and have been baiting. 

Many thanks Peter

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Wed, 10/31/2012 - 10:21 #5
malanda
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/30/2012 - 18:37

Hi

We have beef cattle and live in a tick zone and this is what we do....

- small paddocks and rotate stock between them weekly.  Don't let stock reenter a paddock until at least 3 weeks as the lifecyle of a tick is about 20 days.

- use a pour-on.  We use Akatack at the begining of the tick season (about October in our area) and again around March.  Some farmers here use it 3 times a year and others, who have broken the cycle of ticks, use none at all.

- all cattle introduced to our farm are treated with pour-on on arrival. 

- introduced cattle are held in quarantine for upto 3 days in yards (hand fed and watered).  This enables them to emply bowels, control weed seeds etc and introduces the cattle to a "home" area ie the yards.Quiet cattle help a lot with mustering and handling.  We have droughmasters.

We too would like to introduce guinea fowl as suggested by earlier responses.

Good luck

M

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Thu, 11/01/2012 - 21:59 #6
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Peter,

my internet has been out for a few days so I haven't gotten back to you re your latest questions.

Regarding the 1080 baiting, if you bury the baits about 5cm deep, as reccomended by DPI, then the guinea fowl won't get to them, but the dogs and foxes will still be able to sniff them out. The answer to the second question is, once the guinea fowl are established in their new home then they can be allowed out at night because they roost about 5-6m off the ground in nearby trees where they are safe from foxes and cats etc. The reason they need to be locked in for 2-3 weeks when you first get them is because they are still a wild bird by nature and need to get used to the new place before they are released otherwise they will be off as soon as they are released. I guess getting them may have to wait until they are able to be fed everyday for a while; unless you could get a chook feeder and water dispensing system set up in the pen where they are confined.

Cheers,

Barb

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Tue, 03/26/2013 - 02:17 #7
kaney2021
Last seen: 03/26/2013 - 02:15
Joined: 03/26/2013 - 02:14

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Wed, 07/24/2013 - 14:48 #8
PeterBriant
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 07/23/2013 - 18:26
If Australia doesn't have a microbe remedy for Ticks then I will do something about it?
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