Premium
Haematobia irritans parasitism of F1 yak × beef cattle ( Bos grunniens × Bos taurus ) hybrids
Author(s) -
Calkins C. M.,
Scasta J. D.,
Smith T.,
Stayton M. M.,
Lake S. L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/mve.12382
Subject(s) - biology , haematobia irritans , yak , beef cattle , zoology , french horn , veterinary medicine , muscidae , medicine , psychology , pedagogy , stomoxys
The horn fly Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae ) is a blood obligate ectoparasite of bovids that causes annual losses to the U.S. beef cattle industry of over US$1.75 billion. Climate warming, the anthropogenic dispersion of bovids and the cross‐breeding of beef cattle with other bovid species may facilitate novel horn fly–host interactions. In particular, hybridizing yaks [ Bos grunniens (Artiodactyla: Bovidae )] with beef cows ( Bos taurus ) for heterosis and carcass improvements may increase the exposure of yak × beef hybrids to horn flies. The present paper reports on the collection of digital images of commingled beef heifers ( n = 12) and F1 yak × beef hybrid bovids (heifers, n = 7; steers, n = 5) near Laramie, Wyoming (∼ 2200 m a.s.l.) in 2018. The total numbers of horn flies on beef heifers and F1 yak × beef heifers [mean ± standard error (SE): 88 ± 13 and 70 ± 17, respectively] did not differ significantly; however, F1 yak × beef steers had greater total horn fly abundance (mean ± SE: 159 ± 39) than female bovids. The present report of this experiment is the first such report in the literature and suggests that F1 yak × beef bovids are as susceptible as cattle to horn fly parasitism. Therefore, similar monitoring and treatment practices should be adopted by veterinarians, entomologists and producers.