The Rural Voice, 1979-02, Page 25i
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Advice on Farming
A lousy time
for cattlemen
It's lousy time of year for cattle and
cattlemen. Lice infestations result in
unthrifty cattle, and cut into cattlemen's
profits.
"Lice cause more problems during the
winter than at any other time of the year,"
says John Forsyth, Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food beef cattle specialist.
These irritating parasites reduce feed
efficiency and in severe cases can cause
anemia. A heavily infested animal can gain
1/2 to 3/s of a pound less per day than a
louse -free animal.
Combined with other winter stresses,
lice can pose a costly threat to cattlemen.
Unthrifty animals suffering from lice
infestations can become victims of cold
weather, shipping fever, and diseases that
healthy animals are able to withstand.
Cattle are susceptible to two types of
lice. Red lice feed on the skin of the animal
causing itching. They seem to prefer the
area along the animal's back line. Blue lice
suck the blood and can live on the animal
unnoticed for some time. They are found
primarily on the brisket, neck, shoulder,
and around the base of the tail.
"Cattlemen can control lice in their
herds by checking animals every two weeks
and treating infested animals," says Mr.
Forsyth. "Many producers treat for lice on
a routine basis to avoid any build-up in the
lice population."
To inspect an animal for lice, part the
hair on the back and examine the area with
a flashlight.
Warble control products provide a good
start to a louse control program, but cattle
treated for warble grubs in the fall must
not be overlooked in a lice control program.
Louse control treatments include back
rubbers (mixtures of oil and insecticide),
sprays, dusts, and pour -on systemic
insecticides.
Atrazine tests
avoid crop injury
To help avoid unnecessary crop injury,
the Ridgetown College of Agricultural
Technology (RCAT) is conducting tests for
atrazine residues on soil samples sub-
mitted by farmers.
"Experienced growers know approx-
imately how much atrazine they can use on
their soil to avoid crop injury," says Rudy
Brown, head of the Horticulture and
Biology Section of RCAT. "However, if you
don't know the history of newly -purchased
or rented land, it is wise to test."
Atrazine is the basis for most weed
control in corn throughout Ontario. It is
naturally broken down in the soil by
microorganisms and metabolism of crops
and weeds. But sometimes environmental
conditions can retard natural breakdown.
In addition to causing direct injury to
susceptible crops that follow atrazine
treated corn in rotation, Mr. Brown says
there is also possible interaction of
176 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
The staff of Shur -Gain Farm Service, Listowel represents 176 years of
experience in the feed business.
Let this experience assist you with your farming needs.
We appreciate the business you have given us during 1978 and look
forward to serving you again in 1979
SHUR GAIN
SHUR-GAIN FARM SERVICE
250 Wallace Ave. S. Listowel
291-4660
SHUk GAIN
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THE RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1979 PG. 25