There are many different species of ticks that can live on a cow. Since ticks feed off the blood of their host, a severe infestation of ticks means that the animal is losing significant amounts of blood that can add up overtime, causing anemia. Anemia is the lack of red blood cells that help to transport oxygen within an animal’s body. Severe tick infestations can lead to anemia in cows, especially young calves.

This is referred to as canker ear in a cow. Some ticks enjoy setting up shop in a cow’s ear canal, creating open wounds that can get infected, causing the cow to lose interest in food, shake their head and scratch to ease the pain. Today, they are mostly restricted to a specific area in Brownsville, Texas. ( source)Īn eradication program in 1906 helped to contain the ticks that are most likely to transmit the disease, cattle fever ticks. It causes high fever, hemolysis, anemia and even spontaneous abortions in cattle. Bovine Babiesiosisīovine babiesiosis is horrible tick-borne disease that can often be fatal in cows. Thankfully, there are preventative medicines that can reduce a herd’s risk of contracting anaplasmosis and some high-risk areas even have vaccines available. Once infected, the cow will always be a carrier of the disease even if they do not show any signs. It typically affects older cows less than younger ones, but a cow of any age can be affected. The disease results in a severe case of anemia along with fever, weight loss and even death in cattle. AnaplasmosisĪnaplasmosis is a blood disease in cattle and other animals that is transmitted by tick-bites. Here are some of the most common tick-borne illnesses cattle face. Ticks can cause diseases and medical issues for a wide variety of species and cows are no exception. Tick-borne Diseases and Illness in Cattle

The rays from the sun can dry out a tick and they continuously search for shady, humid areas that prevent this from happening.Ī cow’s thick hair and ears provide shade from the sun and its large size allows multitudes of ticks to survive together on the same animal. Ticks are attracted to any mammal covered in hair because it provides not only a food source but also a safe environment for the ticks to live in, away from the direct sunlight. Natural / Organic Tick Remedies for Cattle.Tick-borne Diseases and Illness in Cattle.

The tick apocalypse cow