University of Missouri Extension state veterinarian Craig Payne will talk about a growing tick disease in cattle at the 95th Stone County Livestock and Forage Conference 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the First Baptist Church in Crane.
“This long-running conference will equip livestock producers to better manage their operations, stay economically viable and provide quality beef products for our nation,” said Tim Schnakenberg, MU Extension field specialist in agronomy.
Payne will address Theileria orientalis ikeda, a protozoal organism. It primarily affects cattle by infecting red blood cells, resulting in anemia. Pregnant heifers and calves are particularly susceptible. Once infected, cattle can be lifetime carriers, and there is no cure.
The disease is primarily spread by the invasive Asian longhorned tick, the most common tick in Missouri. First discovered in 2017 in the United States, it is now in 23 states and is prevalent throughout Missouri.