{"id":17526,"date":"2024-10-21T10:28:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/?p=17526"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:14:22","slug":"babesiosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/blog\/babesiosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Babesiosis risk on the rise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Farmer Guide<\/div>\n\n

Babesiosis in cattle: what farmers need to know<\/h1>\n\n

\n Babesiosis remains an important health risk for cattle in the UK, particularly in areas where ticks are present.\n Understanding symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatment is essential for protecting herd health and reducing economic losses.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Tick-borne disease<\/span>\n Cattle health<\/span>\n Herd performance<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n 1<\/span>\n Disease spread by infected ticks<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 2<\/span>\n Can affect milk yield, weight gain, and fertility<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 3<\/span>\n Early detection improves outcomes<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 4<\/span>\n Herdwatch helps track treatments and field risk<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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What is Babesiosis?<\/h2>\n\n

\n Babesiosis, also known as redwater or tick fever, is a tick-borne disease that affects cattle.\n Babesiosis is caused by a single-celled parasite that infects red blood cells. The disease is spread between cattle by ticks.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Exposure tends to occur in areas where ticks are commonly found. Tick populations thrive in damp, wooded areas with long grass,\n especially in regions like the Scottish Highlands and parts of Southern and Northern England where outbreaks have been noted.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Even where disease risk is considered relatively mild, Babesiosis can still have a significant impact on productivity and fertility.\n Affected cattle may experience lower milk yields, slower weight gain, and long-term fertility issues, all of which can result in economic losses for farmers.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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How is Babesiosis transmitted?<\/h2>\n\n

\n The lifecycle of the Babesia parasite involves both the tick and the cattle host. Once an infected tick bites an animal,\n it transmits the parasite into the bloodstream. The parasite then invades the animal\u2019s red blood cells and begins dividing,\n eventually rupturing the cells.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Clinical symptoms usually begin around two weeks after infection, which makes close observation and prompt action especially important in at-risk herds.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n \u201cEarly detection and strong records can make a real difference when managing disease risk in cattle.\u201d\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Symptoms to watch for<\/h2>\n\n

\n Signs of Babesiosis can vary in severity, but some symptoms are especially important to recognise quickly.\n <\/p>\n\n