Treatment and control of external parasites

• Dipping is very effective; currently, mobile dipping vats for sheep and goats are available.
• After treating place the animal in the sun to dry.
• Due to the biological cycle of the ectoparasites, a single treatment may not be efficient. The first treatment will only kill the active stages of the parasite present on the animal at the time of treatment. The second treatment will kill any eggs that have hatched since the first treatment.
• All animals introduced to a farm must be treated immediately upon arrival to avoid the spread of new parasites on to the farm.
• Some traditional methods of external parasite control can help. These include.

i. Washing the animal with salt water.

ii. Using repellent herbs

iii. Using kerosene to rub the predilection sites.

iv. Use tick grease and/or old engine oil, to reduce parasite numbers on animals. Soaking cloth with a mixture of old engine oil and insecticide and placing it on a tree or on a pole where animals will rub against it will help to apply the material to the animal.

• Once the animals are treated the buildings/ paddocks, barns must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfested with a suitable chemical. No sheep should be housed/grazed in the disinfested area for at least 21 days.
• External parasites can develop resistance to Acaricides and this is encouraged by frequent dipping. The manufacturer’s recommendations should be strictly followed.
• Acaricides are toxic to people as well as animals and care should be taken to limit contact with the skin and prevent any possibility of dip fluid being drunk. Or contaminating ground water.
• Acaricides are also very damaging to wildlife and fish so great care is needed when discarding used dip fluid.
• Do not recommend unnecessary external parasite control. This will waste a farmer’s money and increase possibility of development of drug resistance.
• Burning of pasture and raising poultry that can reduce parasite numbers help in external parasite control.
• Effect and incidence of ectoparasites can usually be reduced by improving nutrition, hygiene of animal houses and by occasional spraying or dipping
• Regular removal of moist bedding, hay and manure along with preventing the accumulation of weed heaps, grass cuttings and vegetable refuse is very helpful.