Several species of lice may infest sheep. These include the sheep biting louse and several species of blood sucking lice; the sheep body louse, the African blue louse and the foot louse. The adult, nymphal and egg stages are all found on the host. The three nymphal stages all resemble the adults. The eggs are glued to wool fibers or hair. Generally lice numbers decrease in the summer and increase in the winter. Lice generally spread by animal contact, but the foot louse may be acquired from an infested pasture.
Biting lice feed on skin scurf, are very irritating and cause sheep to bite, pull their wool and rub against available objects. The wool becomes ragged, torn and may be completely removed in large patches.
The sheep foot louse is not considered very important since it feeds primarily on the hairy parts of the sheep body. The body louse can be found anywhere on the animal, and the African blue louse affects wool on angora goats the most. All lice reduce quality and cleanliness of wool. The primary animal reaction to lice is itching, and under heavy infestations, the animals may experience anemia from blood loss.
Categories: Livestock insects, Sheep, Goats
Date: 12/17/2002