The ticks and their biology are discussed in the section on cattle.
The Rocky Mountain Wood tick can cause tick paralysis and may transmit
Tularemia. The condition, termed “tick
worry” may result when sheep are heavily infested with the lone star tick, and
“Gotch ear” may occur in sheep as well as cattle
because of the tick feeding in the ear.
The spinose ear tick also feeds in the ear,
which causes irritation and pain, and secondary bacterial infections may occur
at the tick feeding sites. Tick feeding
on the body of the sheep causes grain damage to the leather, which causes
buyers to downgrade the sheepskins.
Chemical
Insecticides recommended for other sheep ectoparasites will control ticks. Dipping or high pressure sprays provide the best results. The spinose tick can be controlled by applying an insecticide directly into the ears. Insecticides registered for sheep are listed at the end of the chapter.
Categories: Livestock insects, Sheep, Goats, Ticks
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