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Delaying tick control can be costly Combination vs rotation: The big question in lice management
DELAYING TICK CONTROL CAN BE COSTLY
The cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus) microplus) is regarded as the most economically important parasite to the Australian cattle industry1. Heavy cattle tick infestations can cause significant welfare concerns and production losses arising from blood loss, tick worry, hide damage, weight loss and reduced milk production. Cattle ticks are also the vectors of pathogens causing tick fever, illness and even death.
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Research has shown that just one tick can reduce weight gain by approximately 1 g/ head/ day or milk production by 8.9mL / head/ day2. With an average tick burden of 50 ticks, this equates to 9.12 kg/ head in lost weight gain or 81 litres of lost milk production over a 6 month period. The high cost of this blood sucking parasite means that tick control should be well-considered by northern Australian producers, where cattle ticks are present. “It pays to ensure you are implementing the most effective tick control program at the start of the season” says Elanco’s technical services representative Craig Stevenson.
“An early season control program can help to reduce the build-up of tick populations on pastures and cattle before the annual peak. This in turn reduces their total population within the season.” Craig recommends commencing your control program when ticks are first identified at the start of the season. Products registered for the control of cattle tick may be administered either as cattle dips and sprays, pour-ons or injectable products. Acatak™ Duostar is the ideal strategic tick control to prevent the spring rise in cattle ticks. “Acatak Duostar is a dual-active tickicide that combines the fast-acting knockdown of ivermectin, with the proven long-term protection of fluazuron. Fluazuron is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that breaks the life cycle of cattle ticks. Immature ticks that ingest fluazuron are unable to moult to the next stage and die, whereas adult ticks that ingest fluazuron lay eggs that don’t hatch. This leads to lower pasture contamination as the number of female adults completing their lifecycle and laying eggs will diminish”, explains Craig. In addition to tick control, Acatak Duostar provides the convenience of controlling roundworms, buffalo flies, lice and mites in a single pour-on dose. Acatak Duostar should be applied in two bands either side of the spine from the shoulder to the rump about 7cm apart. “Acatak Duostar is best applied using a 30mL Acatak Duostar manual applicator or a Genesis Power Doser™ fitted with a fan spray nozzle (55 psi operating pressure) and dosed to the heaviest animal in the mob.”
“Once applied, the product is not only absorbed through the hide but also absorbed orally when animals groom. Calves that suckle from treated cows will receive fluazuron through the milk, providing the calf with excellent tick control as well” says Craig. It is recommended not to re-treat for at least six weeks after the previous treatment and apply no more than three treatments per tick season. Resistance to chemical treatments is well recognised for cattle tick. Acatak Duostar has two active ingredients to control ticks, each with a different mode of action. For the time that both actives are above the minimum effective concentration for tick control, ivermectin reduces the chemical resistance selection pressure on fluazuron and vice versa. Where repeat treatment is required within the same season, Acatak Duostar provides some level of rotation between the chemicals that the parasite population is exposed to. For this reason, combination products such as Acatak Duostar should be used in preference to the single actives where possible to help mitigate the risk of resistance developing. “If you are unsure of your tick resistance status or suspect poor efficacy following chemical treatment, it is important to contact either your local Biosecurity Officer or the chemical manufacturer directly and they can assist with organising for cattle ticks to be tested for their resistance status.”
For further information, contact Elanco Animal Health on 1800 226 324.
COMBINATION VS ROTATION: THE BIG QUESTION IN LICE MANAGEMENT
Fennec lice treatment combines the power of two actives for outstanding efficacy, and five weeks’ protection from reinfestation.
While combination drenches for worm control are widely accepted by sheep producers, there has not been a dual action product for lice control – until now. Fennec, Australia’s first combination lice treatment, also offers 5-weeks protection from reinfestation*.
Fennec’s dual active ingredients – imidacloprid and abamectin, have given producers a new weapon in the war against lice, which costs the industry $120 million a year.
Dr Yan Laurenson, senior research fellow with the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England, said using a double active was “the responsible thing to do”.
Dr Laurenson, whose research areas include parasite drug resistance, said the chances of lice developing resistance to two actives given at the same time was “very, very small”.
“This is a step beyond using a traditional rotation, which may inadvertently allow resistance to build,” Dr Laurenson said.
“With lice, the goal is complete eradication. Any lice that may be resistant to the first active will be killed by the second active.”
Boehringer Ingelheim’s cattle and sheep technical manager, Dr Gareth Kelly, said the efficacy of Fennec’s dual action would resonate with sheep producers looking for a simple and easy to use treatment to eradicate lice and prevent wool cut losses.
“The combination offers sheep producers a solution to safeguard their flock from lice and most importantly preserve the efficacy of current actives for much longer,” Dr Kelly said. “History has shown that sheep lice are highly capable of developing resistance to single active lousicides. The use of a dual action product can decrease the chance of resistance building up.”
“Imidacloprid and abamectin both cause paralysis of the lice but studies have shown that the actives act in different ways, so, Fennec offers a two-pronged attack against lice.
“In addition, the actives do not have a common resistance pathway. This is important, as it is less likely that lice will develop resistance to either actives when used together than to one of them alone, which in turn can slow the onset of resistance on a farm.”
Dr Kelly said effective lice control was not just an economic consideration for the producer, but also a big issue for the industry.
If left unchecked, sheep lice infestations can cause reductions in wool cut of up to 1 kilogram per head. They downgrade wool quality by reducing yield and increasing the amount of wool placed in inferior lines because of un-scourable colour and cotting.
Fennec is quick acting and long lasting. Sheep are protected from reinfestation for five weeks after application, when applied within 24 hours of shearing.
“While the science behind Fennec is more complex, it is just as simple and easy to use as traditional pour-ons, but its dual active ingredients pack a much bigger punch,” Dr Kelly said.
To find out more about Fennec Pour-On, head to www.fennecpouron.com.au or visit your local Elders branch.
Sow Pallaton this spring and increase your liveweight production per hectare.
THE SUCCESS OF SCIENCE
Pallaton combines ve important traits to perform within increasingly challenging environments.
Pallaton is available under agency agreement only. For more information on Pallaton, contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds Sales Agronomist on 1800 619 910 or visit us at pggwrightsonseeds.com.au
HIGH FORAGE YIELDS
FROM MULTIPLE GRAZINGS (3 TO 5)
PLANT PERSISTENCE
UNDER MULTIPLE GRAZINGS WATER USE EFFICIENCY
APHID TOLERANCE GRAZING FLEXIBILITY
Pallaton provides feed when farmers need it most by bridging the summer/autumn feed gap for beef, sheep, and dairy.
Pallaton is a raphanobrassica, a hybrid between Brassica oleracea (kale) and Raphanus sativus (radish). It is high yielding, offering flexible grazing as early as 56 days after sowing, but can also be deferred up to 100 days after sowing. It is persistent under multiple grazings and has shown high palatability to stock. With excellent water use efficiency and aphid tolerance, Pallaton is perfect for many farming operations.
Local Tasmanian farmer Will Bignell exclaims, “We did a test plot in 2019 and were so impressed with Pallaton, and how the sheep performed on it, that we sowed half our lamb forage down to it. Impressive water use efficiency!”
While the initial seed cost may be seen as relatively high, if managed effectively, Pallaton provides farmers with a very high return on investment due to multiple grazing opportunities, high dry matter yields, and high weight gains in beef and sheep. Alick Beggs and his sons run a merino sheep in Reedy Creek SA and have reported “After the first grazing, we had about $600 a hectare clear profit. And we still have another 3 or 4 grazing’s to go. The lambs love it and are achieving weight gains of up to 300 grams a day.”
So, is Pallaton right for you? PGG Wrightson Seeds Product Development Manager Isaac Berry says “Pallaton is a highly adaptable plant but requires attention to detail, most importantly fertiliser and grazing management. Pallaton isn’t just a forage rape where you expect 1-2 grazings; this plant has incredible regrowth characteristics, produces more dry matter when grazed regularly and responds quickly to rainfall due to its taproot. On average farmers will see between 3-5 grazings from Pallaton. In comparison to other forage brassicas, Pallaton needs to be grazed more regularly. When grazing with lambs, we like to see farmers start to graze at 56DAS, getting through the crop within 30 days. As a result of Pallaton’s growth under foot, you need to rethink how you calculate yield and stocking rates. If you measure the yield at 3tDM/ha at day 56, expect the yield to be a lot higher (45tDM/ha) by the time you finish the first grazing. Stocking higher than the initial yield at day 56 is essential as it’s a crucial step in helping to utilise the dry matter on offer.”
Sowing Pallaton Raphno is an opportunity for farmers to increase their return on investment and dry matter production. Achieve 3 to 5 grazings and increase liveweight production per hectare, providing attention is giving during establishment, and appropriate grazing management is applied. For more information on Pallaton and if it is suitable for you, contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds Sales Agronomist on 1800 619 910 or visit us at pggwrightsonseeds.com.au
