Tick Control Tips for Livestock Farmers and Ranchers

By Blake Jackson

Livestock farmers are at a heightened risk of tick exposure due to the nature of their work, which can lead to serious health conditions such as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), according to Craig Payne, director of Extension Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri.

“Personal tick protection is important, but producers should also consider adopting tick control measures on the farm,” says Payne. “These measures include reducing tick habitat and implementing practices that decrease tick populations on livestock.”

Alpha-gal syndrome is linked primarily to bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Its saliva contains a sugar molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal. After being bitten, some people become sensitized to this molecule and may later experience allergic reactions when consuming red meat, milk, or other mammalian products that contain alpha-gal.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis may occur.

“Other exposures may also trigger reactions,” Payne notes. “For example, a published case series described three cattle workers with alpha-gal syndrome who developed allergic symptoms after exposure to uterine fluid while assisting with calving.”

Although alpha-gal syndrome isn’t a reportable disease in Missouri, experts believe cases are increasing, especially in rural regions. “Farmers and ranchers are especially at risk for alpha-gal due to working out in the fields where ticks live and contact can be made,” says nutrition and health specialist Eden Stewart, who leads an MU Extension team studying AGS. Hunters and outdoor workers are also at risk.

“Ticks are small, bloodsucking parasites found in great numbers in habitats where warm-blooded hosts are abundant,” says Robert Pierce, MU Extension wildlife specialist. He advises managing farm habitats to reduce tick presence. “Ticks tend to avoid bare ground and prefer areas with leaf litter and thick vegetation. Therefore, keep your lawn and property well-managed by frequent mowing, conducting prescribed burns and proper landscaping.”

Treating pets for ticks is also critical, as animals can bring them into homes and vehicles.

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