"As well as killing flies, Ripcord is also registered for use on cattle to control tick larvae, nymphs and adults ticks ,” explains BASF's Fenton Hazelwood.
 

"And with the significant tick pressure that is being experienced on many farms this year, plus the associated risk of Theileria, farmers have found Ripcord is a cost effective tool for helping manage tick populations.”
 

Anyone who routinely sprays cattle for nuisance flies will be controlling ticks at the same time, as the fly control rate is higher than

that recommended for ticks, he says.
 

With over 800 cattle estimated to have already died from Ikeda strain of Theileria on infected farms, Hazelwood says there's good reason for farmers to heed industry recommendations on managing tick populations.
 

"A product like Ripcord can definitely play an important role, but there are also other factors to consider, such as avoiding rank pastures and other areas where ticks can build up, and adopting management and grazing practices to minimise tick numbers.”
 

The common practice of regularly spraying cows with Ripcord for nuisance flies as they finish milking usually ensures good coverage and while the meat withholding period is 24 days, there is no withholding period for milk from treated cows, he says.
 

A 500 ml bottle of Ripcord is enough to treat 200 adult cows for nuisance flies, acting quickly and effectively as both a knock-down and a repellent treatment for at least a month after application.
 

As well as adult cattle and horses, it is also registered for use on young cattle, calves and ponies.

Approval as both a veterinary medicine and an agricultural compound means that Ripcord can also be used as an insecticide on cabbages, tomatoes, cauliflower and corn; as well as for a general pest control.
 

It is also widely used as a surface spray to control most flying and crawling insects in farm dairies and domestic farm situations.
 

For more information call BASF on 0800 932 273.