How to Kill Lice on Livestock
Various types of lice may infect your farm livestock, and typically become a problem during the winter when livestock are slow moving and grouped together in pens or barns. Not only do lice bite and suck the blood of the livestock, causing discomfort and itching, but they may also cause permanent damage to the animal's skin. Commercial farmers or those with hobby farms can take various approaches to controlling and killing lice on livestock, depending on the animal.
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Instructions
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Inspect all new livestock before introducing the animals to your current livestock. This is one of the most common ways to introduce lice to your herd or flock. Deter lice infestations by following proper husbandry and sanitation practices. Feed and maintain your livestock according to their species-specific needs, and keep pens, barns and feeding areas clean. A healthy animal is less susceptible to lice than one that is not cared for properly.
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Treat poultry, such as chickens or waterfowl, for lice. Apply a permethrin-based lice killing powder formulated for use on birds. Dust the powder on each bird, starting at its neck so that the powder sifts down through the animal's feathers.
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Kill lice on cattle. Problem lice species include Damalinia bovis and Linognathus vituli. Use an injectable or spray-on insecticide designed for cattle use, such as eprinomectin or ivermectin. If the cattle are lactating, use a carbaryl- or rotenone-based dust or spray as ivermectin and eprinomectin is only for beef or non-lactating cattle.
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Eradicate lice on pigs. Use a carbaryl-based spray or dust, or a rotenone dust.
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Kill lice on sheep. This requires a thorough insecticide soaking in a dipping bucket or shower to penetrate the animals' thick wool. Use a triflumuron- or deltamethrin-based sheep insecticide. Consult your local livestock regulations, as laws and regulations may govern the application of insecticides to wool intended for commercial sale.
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Apply a second dose of insecticide to your livestock three weeks after the first application. This kills any lice that have hatched from dormant eggs, effectively breaking the pests' life cycle.
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Tips & Warnings
Livestock owners have several options when it comes to insecticides. Select a chemical formula that matches your budget and needs, as certain insecticides may be more expensive than others in your area. Spray-on and dust-on insecticides are typically easier to apply to large numbers of livestock; injected insecticides take more time to administer and may be best for small farms.
Follow the guidelines on the specific insecticide's label for application instructions. Toxicity varies widely by product.
