Question

Dipping is commonly practiced in

• A. Sheep
• B. Goat
• C. Pig
• D. Cattle

Hint:

To remember this, associate "dipping" with the dense fleece of sheep. The fleece acts as a sponge, requiring complete immersion (dipping) to ensure the acaricide reaches the skin surface.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ectoparasitic infestations (such as ticks, lice, mites, and blowfly strikes) cause significant economic losses in livestock due to skin irritation, wool damage, anemia, and transmission of pathogens.
Control of these ectoparasites is achieved through the application of liquid parasiticides (acaricides/insecticides).
Dipping is a specific method of bulk application where animals are completely submerged or walked through a deep vat filled with the parasiticide solution.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
While various ectoparasite control methods (such as spraying, pour-ons, and spot-ons) are used across different livestock, dipping is a classic and widely adopted management practice specifically associated with sheep.
Sheep are highly vulnerable to sheep scab (caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis), sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus), lice, and blowfly strike.
Because sheep possess a thick, dense woolly coat (fleece), topical sprays or pour-ons often fail to penetrate deep enough to reach the skin where the parasites reside.
Plunging sheep into a dipping vat ensures that the chemical solution completely saturates the fleece and thoroughly wets the skin, providing uniform and long-lasting protection.
In sheep management, "sheep dipping" is conducted systematically after shearing when the wool is short, allowing for maximum skin contact and reducing chemical wastage.
For other livestock:
- Cattle are more commonly treated using spray races, pour-on formulations, or back-rubbers because their size makes plunge-dipping commercially challenging and dangerous.
- Goats and pigs have short hair or bristles and are typically treated with hand sprays or injections rather than plunge dipping.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Dipping is a common husbandry practice used for ectoparasite control in sheep.
Therefore, the correct option is (A).