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Abstract
The effects of Damalinia bovis and Linognathus vituli infestations on the liveweight gains and haematocrit levels of cattle were evaluated in eight controlled trials involving a variety of cattle breeds and age-groups ranging from 2 to 20 months. There were no statistically significant differences in weight gain or haematocrit levels between louse-infected and louse-free groups in any trial.
The difference between these results and those obtained by North American workers could be due to the fact that Haematopinus eurysternus, one of the predominant louse species in North America, was not present in any of the trials.
It is concluded that under most conditions New Zealand farmers are unlikely to benefit financially from increased weight gains following treatment of cattle for lice.