Guernsey bull calf losing fur?

JulieLou42 · #1 04/02/14, 01:09 PM

My calf is about nine months old, and has patches of fur where I can see his skin.

Anyone know what that might be about? It's time for cattle here to begin shedding winter coats, but I've never seen one do it like this.

Thanks guys!

G. Seddon · #2 04/02/14, 01:47 PM

Probably lice. Here's a random article I found about cattle and lice.

http://www.progressivecattle.com/foc...in-beef-cattle

Dfreddie · #3 04/04/14, 04:11 PM

My guess is lice. Is it patchy all over? Any flakes? Happened to my steer last year and now a heifer in with my sons show steer. Little permethrin down the back should do the trick. Good luck!

copperhead46 · #4 04/04/14, 07:49 PM

It's more than likely, lice. It's that time of year, get some pour on wormer, like Ivermectin and it will take care of internal and external parasites.

JulieLou42 · #5 04/04/14, 08:08 PM

Wouldn't his wetnurse cow have them, too? She seems to be clear of this...no patches of fur missing. He got a longer coat on him than she did, tho'. Hers wasn't nearly as thick as my Ginger's was during the winters that I had her. I only have the two of them, which I acquired last August from lower elevation over in east Washington.

I'll have to see about that Ivermectin, and how to get it on him, if that's what it is.

Thanks!

JulieLou42 · #6 04/06/14, 11:26 PM

Weather's pretty lousy to get good pictures. I'll take another look at him tomorrow...he's not friendly, as not been handled because of lack of mobility over the winter, having had one knee replaced and needing the other one done, too.

gingersgoats · #7 04/08/14, 01:17 PM

I have had 2 calves do this. I took pictures and went to the local co-op where there are many knowledgeable cattle farmers. They looked at the pictures and said as long as there is no flaking, or swelling or redness, that the calves are probably scratching or rubbing the hair off. I watched them for several days and the hair soon started to regrow without any problems. I was concerned about mange or lice myself. But it turned out they just had itch that needed a lot of rubbing I guess.

G. Seddon · #8 04/08/14, 03:23 PM

Lice will cause the itching; they eventually go away on their own, I think, but the itching could cause scrapes and cuts and the bare spots are unsightly. Glad the hair is regrowing so quickly.

JulieLou42 · #9 04/09/14, 02:11 PM

I've never seen him scratching. The fur is skimpish on his neck, too. And the most obvious bare spots are on each of his thighs near the knees, about 4 or 5 inches square. He otherwise seems in good health.

Haven't been able to get good pix yet.

JulieLou42 · #10 04/24/14, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingersgoats

I have had 2 calves do this. I took pictures and went to the local co-op where there are many knowledgeable cattle farmers. They looked at the pictures and said as long as there is no flaking, or swelling or redness, that the calves are probably scratching or rubbing the hair off. I watched them for several days and the hair soon started to regrow without any problems. I was concerned about mange or lice myself. But it turned out they just had itch that needed a lot of rubbing I guess.

This is probably what the skimpy fur's about. No signs of anything else going on as you mention in your post, and the spots seem to be filling back in with fur. They aren't round, come in many shapes and sizes; some are like stripes, even.

It might have been because I have been feeding them year-old hay that was affordable here, and not graining my two-cattle "herd."

oregon woodsmok · #11 04/27/14, 05:09 PM

Lice.

Ringworm makes a little circle in the coat that looks a bit like chicken skin around the edges and smooth in the center.

Pour-on ivermectin should get rid of the lice. Ringworm requires a fungicide.

Lady89 · #12 05/06/14, 08:55 PM

Is the skin on the bold spots dry and flaky, but otherwise look healthy? If it is it could be the same thing my little bull cave has going on. I called the vet and he told me that it was most likely a fungal skin infection, very much like the stuff that that gives humans dandruff. Apparently it is pretty normal for cows to get this time of year when they are shedding. The cure is plenty of sun shine and Iodine based animal shampoo, you can get it at almost any feed store.