Commingled black and white cows (Bos taurus; Angus and Charolais) in high-elevation rangeland are differentially parasitised by Haematobia irritans
John D. Scasta A C and Travis Smith B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Agriculture C 1009, Department 3354, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
B Beef Unit, Agriculture Experiment Station, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: jscasta@uwyo.edu
Animal Production Science 59(9) 1727-1738 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18400
Submitted: 30 June 2018 Accepted: 26 October 2018 Published: 18 December 2018
Abstract
Globally horn flies (Haematobia irritans) are one of the most economically damaging parasites of beef cattle. These obligate blood-feeding external parasites take blood meals from cattle leading to blood loss, annoyance avoidance behaviours, and reductions in animal performance. Development of chemical resistance by horn flies suggests that novel management strategies are needed. More in-depth understanding of parasitism relative to hide colour and temperature, especially in a changing climate, may enhance animal production. In peak parasitism periods of 2016 and 2017, we measured horn fly loads on commingled black Angus and white Charolais cows in a cold high-elevation rangeland in Wyoming, USA. We tested how breed, year, and interactions explained horn fly parasitism and economic thresholds. In 2016 we also measured ambient and external cow temperatures to further elucidate thermal ecology mechanisms explaining horn fly hide colour preferences. Mean annual horn fly infestations were always four times greater or more on black cows than white cattle both years, but not all cattle reached economic thresholds all years and the breed by year interaction was not significant. Difference in horn fly preference for black cattle over white cattle in our cold high-elevation environment may be explained by greater absolute and relative external surface temperatures of black hided cows. Host colour and thermal preferences of horn flies could be incorporated into integrated pest management strategies that only treat darker hided cattle and producers in cold high-elevation environments conduct real-time monitoring to determine if treatments are even needed on a year-by-year basis.
Additional keywords: environmental stress, grazing management, integrated pest management, parasitology, rangelands.
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