Tips on Fly Control on Cattle

A single housefly buzzing around the dinner table can be bothersome. For livestock, however, flies are more than just a simple nuisance. According to the High Plains Journal, they can cause severe damage to cattle. Flies can spread disease; everything from pinkeye to anaplasmosis, and are responsible for decreased weight and lower milk yields. There are several fly-control methods available, each with their own pros and cons. An integrated treatment program will produce the best results.

  1. Sprays and Pour-ons

    • Spray and pour-on products offer positive initial results. Sprays are particularly effective if you are looking to immediately knock down the flies. A spray will typically offer residual protection for up to two weeks. Pour-on formulas may last longer. But, if used excessively, flies may build up a resistance to the insecticide. A study by the Animal Science Department of North Carolina State University recommends using sprays and pour-ons at the outset of the fly season.

    Rubs and Dusters

    • Rubs and dusters may be used during the beginning of the fly season as well. This method is most effective once the cattle have begun to associate the applicator apparatus to a reduced number of flies. Place the applicator next to a food or water source so that the cattle are frequently forced to come into contact with it. If you opt to not implement other fly controls, self-medicators such as rubs and dusters can be an effective season-long treatment. Be sure they are recharged after a rainfall.

    Ear Tags

    • If you have chosen an integrated fly control program, after spraying and using rubs during the early part of the season, you should consider using ear tags. Ear tags provide livestock with long-term protection from flies. It is recommended that you use two tags, one per ear, and that the tags utilize a different insecticide than the sprays and dusts you used earlier in the season. At the end of the season, remove the tags so that low levels of the insecticide do not persist and allow flies to build up a resistance. For next season, choose ear tags with a different insecticide than the previous year̵7;s.

    Feed-through

    • Feed-through fly control utilizes food additives which disrupt the life cycle of the insect. Adult flies lay their eggs on fresh manure. The chemicals ingested and safely passed through the livestock prevent the development of fly larvae so that they do not become adult flies. This method is effective only if the cattle are consistently given enough of the product and if they are relatively isolated. If there are other cattle nearby that are not given feed-through additives, your herd will remain susceptible to flies.

    Biological Control

    • Some farmers and cattlemen have begun using biological controls, such as fly wasps, to limit the number of flies affecting their livestock. Using wasps, a natural predator of flies, is a safe alternative to insecticides, but they must be placed in areas of high manure concentration in order to be effective. Also, fly wasps do not reproduce. Thus, they must be re-introduced every month during fly season.