As the days on the calendar get closer to harvest, DTN Taxi Perspective farmers provide progress reports and discuss how they’re coping…
REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) – Flies can be a problem for cattle herds during the spring and summer. Using good controls at the right time can help achieve a return on investment.
“Good pest management strategies can help provide effective control,” said Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University veterinarian and livestock management specialist. This means the right control at the right time and for the right duration.
“When raising beef calves, lice and fly pest control before grazing will not be effective and results in a loss of pest control resources,” Stoica said. “The timing and type of pest control depends on the fly species.”
Horn flies and sea flies typically do not appear until early summer and do not reach the economic threshold for control until mid-summer. Horn flies are gray and look like small house flies. If left unchecked, they can attack livestock up to 120,000 times a day. During peak hours, up to 4,000 slingshot flies can live on one cow hide.
Elizabeth Belew, a cattle nutritionist at Purina Animal Nutrition, said slingshot flies alone could cost the U.S. livestock industry up to $1 billion a year. “Cattle fly control early in the season can make a big difference in controlling populations throughout the season,” she said.
“Continuous biting can cause pain and stress in cattle and can reduce a cow’s weight gain by as much as 20 pounds,” Stokka added.
Face flies look like large, dark house flies. They are non-biting flies that feed on animal excretions, plant nectar and fecal fluids. These flies can infect the eyes of cattle and cause conjunctivitis. These populations typically peak in late summer.
Stable flies are similar in size to house flies, but have round markings that distinguish them from horn flies. These flies feed on blood, usually biting the stomach and legs. They are difficult to control with spilled or injected products.
There are several different types of flight controls, and some may work better than others in certain conditions. According to Belew, an effective and convenient way to control horn flies throughout the fly season is by feeding minerals containing insect growth regulators (IGRs), which are suitable for all classes of cattle.
“When cattle containing IGR consume the mineral, it passes through the animal and into fresh feces, where adult female horn flies lay eggs. IGR prevents pupae from developing into biting adult flies,” she explains. It is best to feed 30 days before the last frost in the spring and 30 days after the first frost in the fall to ensure that livestock intake reaches target levels.
Colin Tobin, an animal scientist at NDSU’s Carrington Research Center, said it’s useful to survey pastures to determine what flies are present and their populations. Ear tags, which contain pesticides that are slowly released into the animal’s fur as it moves, are a good option, but should not be used until the fly population is high in mid-June to July, he said.
He recommends reading labels, as different labels may vary in the amounts to use, the age of the cattle that may be stated, and the chemical grade of the active ingredient. Tags should be removed when they are no longer valid.
Another control option is potting compounds and sprays for animals. They are usually applied directly to the topline of the animal. The chemical is absorbed and circulates throughout the animal’s body. These medications can control flies for up to 30 days before they need to be used again.
“For proper fly control, sprays must be applied every two to three weeks throughout the flying season,” Tobin said.
In forced use situations, the most effective fly control methods are dust collectors, back wipes and oil cans. They should be placed in areas where livestock have frequent access, such as water sources or feeding areas. Powder or liquid used as an insecticide. Bellew warns that this requires frequent inspections of pesticide storage equipment. Once cattle realize it helps them, they’ll start using the devices more often, she said.
Post time: Aug-13-2024