RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGE ME NT DURING DROUGHT. 75 



the germ-free vaccine when properly and carefully administered cer- 

 tainly warrant the attention of all stockmen in eliminating the 

 losses from this disease. 



Scabies. — An outbreak of scabies in the herds on the reserve in 

 1919 contributed materially to the poor condition of the stock that 

 year. The disease caused stock to fall off in flesh rapidly, causing 

 danger of loss from starvation. The infestation of stock on the 

 Jornada Range Reserve was cleaned up in a single dipping campaign 

 of two 'dippings in lime-and-sulphur dip at intervals of 11 to 14 daj^s, 

 under the direction of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry. 

 A detailed description of the disease and treatment is given in Farm- 

 ers' Bulletin lOlT.^^ 



Parasites. — The two most common parasites on cattle on south- 

 western ranges are the louse and the spinose ear tick. They are most 

 prevalent during winter and spring months, when stocks are in the 

 poorest condition. While these parasites do not cause death directly, 

 they lower the vitality of the stock by drawing nourishment from 

 the blood of the host and detracting from quiet grazing through 

 constant irritation, thus contributing indirectly to losses by star- 

 vation. 



Both long-nosed and short-nosed ox lice are common on South- 

 western ranges. These parasites spread rapidly where cattle are 

 handled on feeding grounds. Dipping in arsenical or nicotine dip 

 is recommended by the Bureau of Animal Industry for control of 

 lice on range cattle. A single dipping of year-old stock in low- 

 strength arsenical dip just before they were removed to summer range 

 on the Jornada Range Reserve in 1917 was effective in checking the 

 lice infestation, thus giving the stock additional advantage on the 

 range. 



As many as 110 ear ticks have been taken from the ears of one 

 yearling heifer on the Jornada Reserve. The injury caused by these 

 ticks in drawing blood from their host and the constant irritation 

 contribute in no small degree toward weakening a poor animal. A 

 mixture of two parts pine-tar and one part cottonseed oil, in doses of 

 about one-half ounce, applied to the ears of the infected animal, as 

 recommended by the United States Bureau of Animal Industry to 

 check the ear tick, has been used to some extent on stock on the 

 Jornada Range Reserve. Treated animals were rid of the pest for 

 a sufficient period to be of value in improving their condition, but 

 reinfestation usually occurred in from 2 to 7 weeks. The ticks live 

 apart from their host for long periods, and stock pick them up 

 around watering places, corrals, etc. 



-^' Imes, Marion, Cattle Scab and Methods of Control and Eradication ; U. S. Dept. Asjri., 

 Farmers' Bui. 1017, December, 1918. 



