Effect of dipping on the growth rate of grazing cattle

Abstract

Eighteen sets of twin cattle were used in an experiment to measure the effect of stresses associated with control of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) on the growth rate of grazing cattle. On nine occasions in a simulated tick eradication programme, three groups each of
12 cattle were either (a) weighed only (control), or (b) driven a total of 4·8 km and weighed, or (c) driven a total of 4·8 km, dipped in an organo-phosphate acaricide, and weighed. The cattle were checked regularly on treatment days for tick burdens, but these were insignificant.
Productivity of the cattle was unaffected by treatments during the trial, which lasted 102 days.