ABSTRACT
University of California, Riverside Ectoparasites can negatively affect cattle health, welfare, and productivity in many ways, ranging from reductions in cattle weight gain or milk production, to severe health consequences and even death of parasitized animals. The presence and abundance of ectoparasites at any individual cattle facility is driven primarily by the local environment and by the operational characteristics of the facility. Most ectoparasites exhibit seasonal activity that is relatively consistent among years and across cattle production systems within a geographic area, with the timing of peak activity often predictable by temperature and rainfall during the preceding months. Cattle production systems are loosely categorized as extensive or intensive depending upon the level of mechanization, human control over cattle nutrition, and amount of labor required for cattle care. The presence of suitable immature development habitat is perhaps the most important cattle system characteristic to determine both presence and abundance of cattle ectoparasites.
