Start Tick Treatment Now

AUSTRALIA - Northern beef producers have been warned that while a wet winter is good for pasture growth, the weather also brings the threat of tick fever and other tick-related health issues.

8 October 2010

2 minute read

Oceania

Biosecurity Queensland is urging cattle producers to take their tick control programs seriously this summer - with inspectors already seeing a rise in tick-related health issues.

Biosecurity Queensland Townsville-based inspector Rachael Palfreyman said producers should start tick treatment early, before ticks became a problem.

"Ticks thrive in the current weather conditions so producers should be sure to follow instructions specified by the products," she said.

"It’s also important to be sure the products are appropriate for the tick problem producers are experiencing or are expecting once the wet season properly gets underway.

"We have already been alerted to some cases of tick-related health issues in animals where the owners have not been using the product correctly - this includes off label usage where producers are not abiding by re-treatment intervals or are not mixing products to the strength as specified by the label.

"Remember that ticks can develop a resistance to some treatments over time if used incorrectly - so producers do need to keep on top of ticks before they become a problem and read the labels of their selected product before they use them.

"Conversely, inappropriate use of tick control products can also lead to toxicity problems and chemical residues in meat."

Ms Palfreyman said ticks were a problem across the industry, from the hobby cattle farmer to the largest grazing enterprise.

"Ticks don’t discriminate," she said.

"If you have cattle, the current seasonal conditions may place them at risk."