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Stable flies are a problem early in the summer. It was thought to be mainly a feedlot problem, but now has spread to the pastures probably wind blown from local feedlots or imported over long distances by storms. Horn flies suck blood from the cattle late in summer. Horn flies are exclusively a range and pasture problem. Implement a Total Program The design of the program is critical for control. Designing a complete control program may require the assistance of a trained livestock entomologist, veterinarian or animal scientist trained in this technology. A "Total Management Program" is suggested by Dr. Dudley Smith, a veterinarian from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. "We recommend at least one of the following procedures, depending on the fly," including 1) feed additives like Rabon Oral Larvicide, 2) back rubbers, 3) sprays, 4) pour-on insecticides, and 5) dust bags. Feed Additives One feed additive is Rabon Oral Larvacide (ROL) for horn, stable, face and house flies for cattle, dairy cattle and horses. Rabon is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and is used mostly for confined operations such as feedlots, dairies and horse stables. It is usually used with other tactics like sprays for the control of house flies. It is a very safe product. For pasture operations it may have a place for stable fly and horn fly control if the intake is adequate. Up to now, Rabon's main use has been confined operations (See related story on page 13.) Another feed additive is IGR, an immature growth factor, which is used mainly for pasture cattle to control horn flies. IGR is an insect growth regulator and is marketed mostly by MoorMans Manufacturing through their mineral program. It is not an organic insecticide, but an insect hormone that is safe for the animals, the people handling the product and the environment. Dr. Cliff Willms of MoorMans Manufacturing suggests that some of their customer use a dust application as a support of the IGR program. The convenience and safety to the livestock as well as the environment are benefits of the program, according to Willms. "Adequate mineral intake is needed to get proper control," emphasized Dr. Willms. Manure management and sanitation are an essential part of the program for fly control in the feedlot. Parasitic wasps can be used with both IGR and Rabon. Sprays and Dusts as Part of the Control The livestock supply industry has several insecticides that, when applied to the livestock, give residual control. These chemicals by themselves may give adequate control of horn flies, but stable flies are a more difficult problem and may require another tactic. Dust bags have been used for many years, but beware that they take day-to-day management. Cattle oilers have been used for generations and are still a good alternative. For stable fly control, the cattle can rub their legs and undersides on the oilers and get the insecticide to the ideal location. Insecticidal Ear Tags as a Control These tools have achieved widespread use for horn fly control. They may need to be supported with other methods like feed additives, sprays or dusts. Rotation of products is recommended by Don Mock of Kansas State University and other livestock entomologists. Pour-On or Injectable Products These are interesting tools to help control flies when cattle are first turned out to pasture or confined in a feedlot. They don't interfere with a feed additive program. The products that were formerly used for lice or lice and grub control now are used as a control of horn and stable flies. Also, the products originally designed and marketed for grub and internal parasites shown to be effective for lice, mange and horn flies. These products are Ivomec, Dectomax and Cydectin. They come in pour-on and Ivomec and Dectomax have injectable formulations. The question is will they give long season control? The blood level may fall below the threshold for control. New research and field experience will determine the effectiveness of these products for feedlot and pasture fly control. Study the Label A planned program will take study and knowledge of the life cycle of the fly and their feeding patterns. Read the labels and be cautious of the withdrawal time for slaughter. Economics of Fly Control Stable flies are a problem for only a short period of time. They appear to be a problem for performance because the cattle bunch up and do not eat or graze properly. Horn flies suck blood. The threshold for control is not well determined since the experiments are hard to perform. Often in feedlots the reason for house fly control is for the neighbors, rather than for cattle performance. |
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