We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Commingled black and white cows (Bos taurus; Angus and Charolais) in high-elevation rangeland are differentially parasitised by Haematobia irritans.
- Authors
Scasta, John D.; Smith, Travis
- Abstract
Globally horn flies (Haematobia irritans) are one of the most economically damaging parasites of beef cattle. These obligate blood-feeding external parasites take blood meals from cattle leading to blood loss, annoyance avoidance behaviours, and reductions in animal performance. Development of chemical resistance by horn flies suggests that novel management strategies are needed. More in-depth understanding of parasitism relative to hide colour and temperature, especially in a changing climate, may enhance animal production. In peak parasitism periods of 2016 and 2017, we measured horn fly loads on commingled black Angus and white Charolais cows in a cold high-elevation rangeland in Wyoming, USA. We tested how breed, year, and interactions explained horn fly parasitism and economic thresholds. In 2016 we also measured ambient and external cow temperatures to further elucidate thermal ecology mechanisms explaining horn fly hide colour preferences. Mean annual horn fly infestations were always four times greater or more on black cows than white cattle both years, but not all cattle reached economic thresholds all years and the breed by year interaction was not significant. Difference in horn fly preference for black cattle over white cattle in our cold high-elevation environment may be explained by greater absolute and relative external surface temperatures of black hided cows. Host colour and thermal preferences of horn flies could be incorporated into integrated pest management strategies that only treat darker hided cattle and producers in cold high-elevation environments conduct real-time monitoring to determine if treatments are even needed on a year-by-year basis. Horn flies, an external parasite of cattle, are not well understood in high-elevation rangelands. We measured horn flies on black Angus cows and white Charolais cows in 2016 and 2017. Annual fly infestations were four times greater or more on black cows both years. Not all cattle reached economic thresholds all years. Cow colour fly preference in our environment may be explained by external temperatures of black cows. Manipulating host colour and thermal preferences of horn flies could enhance beef production.
- Subjects
WYOMING; BEEF cattle; COWS; CATTLE; HORN fly
- Publication
Animal Production Science, 2019, Vol 59, Issue 9, p1727
- ISSN
1836-0939
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/AN18400