THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



The Importance of Killing Ticks 



ON 



Working Cattle 



In many countries the main use for cattle it for haulage or other working purposes, and the object 

 of these notes is to emphasise the fact that in the case of working cattle, it is especially true that 



the presence of ticks means a constant money loss to the owner. A consideration of the following cattle tick 



facts will make it abundantly clear that it is cheaper to kill ticks than to feed them. 



TICKS ARE BLOOD-SUCKERS. While maturing, each tick abstracts a definite amount of blood from an animal, and to 

 tliat degree injures it. The quantity of blood abstracted is many times the weight of the ticks when grown, for these represent 

 otlly that part of the solids and fluids which may be converted into the tissues of the tick, the remaining solids and fluids 

 being rejected. 



The amount of blood taken by a single tick may be relatively small, but the total amount drawn by thousands of ticks 

 on one animal cannot fail to be injurious. 



If each tick represents but a dram of blood, a few over 1.000 would represent 8 pounds of blood ; it is possible that each 

 tick absorbs more than a dram of blood. 



Hence it is no matter for surprise'that according to the statement of a reliable authority, blood up to 500 lbs. in weight 

 may be taken by ticks from the body of a single animal in the course of a year. 



A CONSTANT DRAIN ON THE SYSTEM. The presence of any considerable number of ticks on cattle is clearly a great 

 drain on the animal economy, increasing the amount of feed required by each animal, and demanding a greater expenditure 

 of energy on the part of the animal in obtaining, digesting, and assimilating this additional amount of food. In consequence of 

 this dram, the rate of putting on flesh in the case of beef cattle is reduced, and the amount of milk produced b}' dair\- cattle 

 is diminished ; and in tlie case of working cattle the only result can be a greatly reduced working power. 



EVIDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES. The following figures illustrate very clearly the eSect upon the constitution 

 and general welfare of cattle of long-continued exposure through many generations to tick infestation. Although these figures 

 refer to beef cattle, the facts they illustrate apply equally to working animals. 



Tick-free Slates 

 Tick-wfesled Stales : Florida 340 lbs. 



AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF BEEF CATTLE: 

 Wyoming 985 lbs. Idaho 966 lbs. 



Georgia 419 lbs. Louisiana 471 lbs. 



Montana 938 lbs. 

 Alabama 500 lbs. 



Mississippi 550 lbs. 



TICKS MEAN REDUCED WORKING POWER. Cattle whose vitality is reduced by tick-infestation cannot give the same 

 returns in work as clean healthy cattle. It is as if one had a 5 horse-power engine and allowed it to get so dirty that at least 

 2 out of the 5 horse-power is required to overcome the friction of the working parts, leaving only 3 actual horse-power available 

 for performing work. 



The cattle have to eat sufficient to feed the ticks before their own bodies receive any benefit ; if the ticks are numerous, the 

 feed will not suffice for both animal and ticks, and loss of condition will result. In an experiment designed to secure information 

 on this point, a herd of cattle were divided into two lots, one of which was infested with ticks and the other kept free from 

 ticks. Both lots were fed in exactly the same way, yet the tick-infested cattle lost an average of 9 lbs. in weight, whilst the 

 tick-free cattle gained an average of 44 lbs ! 



TICKS MEAN SHORTER LIFE. Although no definite experimental evidence on the point is available, it is certain 

 that working cattle, if their vitality is kept at a low point by gross tick-infestation, not only do less effective service, 

 but would also be much more susceptible to diseases of all kinds, and would thus be shorter-lived. In the tick-infested area of 

 the United States the death-rate amongst cattle is nearly three times greater than in the tick-free area. 



IN TIMES OF DROUGHT. In the West Indies there are times when green food and even molasses are not available as 

 cattle food. The pastures are at their poorest, and not only are unable to maintain in condition the animals intended for the 

 butcher, but also are inadetjuate for supporting the general herd. 



In the face of such conditions, largely unavoidable, it becomes all the more necessary to free the cattle from ticks, which, 

 as already stated, drain their bodies of blood and seriously reduce their vitality. When fpod is scarce, none can be spared for 

 the feeding of ticks and it must all be used for the benefit of the cattle. 



The case for keeping working cattle may be summed up in three lines : — 



Ticks consume the Blood of Cattle. Decreased Blood Supply means Decreased Vitality. 



Decreased Vitality means Decreased Working Power. 



IT IS CHEAPER TO KILL TICKS THAN TO FEED THEM. 



COOPER'S CATTLE TICK DIP 



Hai received the official approval of the following Countries : 

 Union of South Africa, Northern Rhodesia, Brazil, Basutoland, 



Nyasaland, Swaziland, Southern Rhodesia, Madagascar, 



British East Africa, German East Africa, Portuguese East Africa, 



Porlaguese West Africa, Egypt, Argentine Republic. Queensland, 



United Stales of America, New South Wales, 



-1 Northern Territory of Australia. 



WEST INDIAN AGENTS; 



ST. KITT-S: 5. L. Horsford & Co. ANTIGLiA: Bennett, Dryson & Co. 



JAMAICA: I). Henderson & Co., KIOKSton, 



OUiSNADA: Tliom.'ion, liankey & Co. 



BARBADU.S: Karbado.« Co-operative Cotton Co., Ltd. 



UAHAMA.S: W. N. Twynam. Nassau. 



TRINlOAl): r. Qeddes Urunt. Port of 5i>aln. 



BRITISH GUIANA: .Sandbach. Parker & Co. 



ST. VINCKNT: Corea & Co.. kinKstown. NliVIS: 5. D. Malone. 



DANISH WEST irNlUE-;: Carl V. I.a Beet. St. Thomas. 



MONT.SEKRAT: W. Llewellyn Wall. DUMINICA: Hon. H. A. Pramoton. 



5T. LUCIA: Barnard Sons & Co., Castries. A., 



Manufacturers : WILLIAM COOPER & NEPHEWS, Berkhamsted, England. 



BRANCHES : ToroDto, Chicago, Sydney, Mclbounie, Aucklasd, Bucnot Airct, Moolt Video, Puata Aresu, Ea>t Undoo, Odcw*. 



