Dandruff in show cattle…It’s a pretty gross topic and pretty irritating to deal with as well. Embarrassing moment: Someone comes over to help you fit, and as they start combing to glue a back leg, dandruff starts flaking off…This is not an acceptable way to “build” leg hair!
This may not be a topic you want to read about while you’re having lunch. Unfortunately, it’s just something you have to deal with when showing cattle.
There are several sources of dandruff in show cattle
Some of the most common sources are pour-on wormers, lice, soap, and fitting products.
Over the years, our friends have talked about all sorts of solutions such as dipping with vinegar after you rinse them, mouth wash and Sullivan’s Double Dip.
Much like dealing with ringworm, if you ask 10 people how to best get rid of dandruff, you’ll likely get 15 answers. Truth is, they may all be right! You’ll have to see what works for you.
Before we get to the solution, let’s talk about the cause so we can, in many cases, eliminate it before it starts. First, let’s assume cattle are on a good diet for skin health…
Often, we can figure out what caused dandruff based on what it looks like and where it is on their bodies.
Pour-Ons
Alcohol-based pour-on dewormers are very tough on their hides. When we pour with an ivermectin wormer, we know we will almost immediately follow with dandruff. It doesn’t stop us from using it though because lice and mange pose a much higher risk for keeping the hair on show cattle.
Dandruff they get from a pour-on is mostly along their tops…as you’d expect. It usually flakes off in pretty big chunks, at least initially.
Lice
In the fall, when we start working with the calves we’ve bought, they often have lice. After washing for the first time, we always point the blower straight down into their tailhead as we blow them out. If they are lousy, you can see either the actual lice, the eggs or both.
The lice are little tiny tan-ish colored bugs while the eggs look like tiny white dots in the hair. Typically you have to blow dandruff out of the way to see it…unless they are infested. Then it’s easy to see.
It may seem really bad, but it’s such a big deal, you just need to pour them. Honestly, when they have lice, it’s easier to get them gentle because they are itchy and are totally good with you scratching on them. There’s your silver lining!
If your calf is itching his neck in the fall or spring, he likely has lice. They can rub the hair off in no time, so pay attention if they start to rub on stuff.
Soap and fitting products are culprits here too!
If you don’t get the soap rinsed out all the way, you’ll get dandruff. Soap dandruff can be anywhere but seems to show up on their sides, stifle or other areas you don’t normally find dandruff in show cattle with the other causes.
There’s often a ton of it, it will be little flakes and in random spots like their stifle, belly or behind their shoulder. Additionally, many times when you glue and break down their legs, you’ll see dandruff. Particularly if you leave it in overnight and/or don’t moisturize their hair and hide.
How do I get rid of it?
So you have dandruff, now what? Well, this part is simple. You’ll really only need three things for this in our barn. A comb, Kleen Sheen…yep we believe strongly in that brand because it’s worked for us… and a blower.
If you have a favorite, use it. Blow the sheen straight down into their hide on one blower motor. Comb it in and get to work with your blower…full power! You can comb it while blowing as well to lift it off of the hide. If you are doing it right, your blower nozzle is right down on their hide at about an 80-degree angle and dandruff will be flying out all around you.
That’s about as close as we get to “snowing” where we live. In fact, this year we got a new headgate in the clipping chute, which is red. The film of dandruff and dirt that accumulated this fall was pretty gross!
Well, that was a lot to tell you the next part which is crazy simple.
Keep them lice-free, get your soap out and really condition wherever you’ve glued them after they show. Good luck in your war on dandruff. Like we say in many of our posts, use your blower!!!
You can read more about getting hair care in this post:
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