Ticks can be identified by direct examination without the use of microscopes or hand lens. Those filled with blood are easier to identify because they are large and also reddish from the consumed blood. To find ticks on your livestock, comb the hairs or feathers to expose and examine the skin directly. Ticks may have preferred attachment sites that protect them to a certain degree from being dislodged by animal grooming. Areas around the head, in the ears, on the shoulders and other parts of the body can harbour attached ticks. On cattle, ticks can be found in highly vascularized areas of the skin (i.e., tail, udder). Unattached ticks can be recovered from the host by combing and examining the comb. It is important to identify the types of ticks attacking your livestock. This is because some ticks carry agents that transmit deadly infections that may wipe out your stock. Find someone knowledgeable or use biological reference manuals for easy identification. Livestock extension office
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