Tick infestations cause significant welfare problems in cattle including skin irritation, anaemia, disease transmission, and secondary infections, requiring integrated management for both welfare and productivity.
Significant tick burdens impose chronic welfare costs on affected cattle. The constant irritation of tick attachment causes restlessness and prevents normal resting and grazing behaviour. Heavy infestations lead to progressive anaemia as ticks remove substantial blood volumes, causing weakness, exercise intolerance, and in severe cases death. Tick-transmitted diseases cause high fever, haemolysis, and organ failure, representing acute welfare crises. The secondary skin wounds from tick attachment sites and self-trauma from rubbing become infected, adding pain and inflammation. Integrated tick management combining genetic selection for resistance, strategic acaricide use, pasture management, and biological controls reduces reliance on chemicals while maintaining welfare. Animals showing signs of heavy infestation require prompt treatment. Regular monitoring and record-keeping of tick burdens helps identify when intervention is needed before welfare is seriously compromised.