Cattle external parasites are a tremendous problem in cattle herds, and Summer brings on its unique challenges. Dr. Shynia Peterman and I are so excited to welcome you to the inaugural episode of Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health!

Our purpose is to bring you information and resources from the industry's brightest minds to help you manage your herd health. Our format is casual, but don’t let that fool you; we dig deep to find the best solutions. We encourage our listeners to send in their questions and comments to [email protected].

Today’s episode topic is about external parasites in cattle operations. Lice, mites, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and other pests can make a cow's life miserable and cost you money!

Our guest is Dr. Mark Alley. Dr. Alley is a managing veterinarian with the US cattle and equine Technical Services team at Zoetis. He joined Zoetis in 2014. His responsibilities include providing technical support to Zoetis territory business managers for cattle in the eastern United States. Mark is a native of Mississippi, having received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Mississippi State University in 1996.

Dr. Synia and Dr. Alley discuss external parasites in general, but then dig into various hotspots around the country, including Theileria orientalis Ikeda, a microscopic protozoan parasite that infects the red blood cells of cattle, causing anemia. The disease is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) or by blood transfer through the use of contaminated needles and equipment. The tick can feed on many animal species, including humans, but the blood parasite only affects cattle. Once a cow is infected, it may take 1-8 weeks before she shows symptoms of disease. The Asian Tick has been seen in large infestations across the US.

Dr. Shynia answers numerous questions from you our listeners. Make sure and check out her tips and solutions.

Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health

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