Livestock Management RANCHING
Don’t Let Flies Rob You of Profi t By Kristin Hawkins
I
House Fly
F YOU HAVE COWS, IT’S A SURE BET YOU HAVE FLIES. DEPENDING on your locale, especially along and east of the I-35
corridor, the winged pests may also be robbing you of profi t. Fly infestations can have a signifi cant economic impact on animal performance and have been impli- cated in the spread of pinkeye and mastitis. According to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Extension, economic losses associated with the horn fl y, one of the costliest of the 3 fl y species affecting pastured cattle, are estimated at $1 billion annually. While we may never be totally free of fl ies, there are ways to help you control their numbers. More than one fl y species can cause problems for
your cattle, and there isn’t a one-size-fi ts-all treatment that works for every situation. Depending on your location, type of operation and even the time of year, an effective fl y control program involves a good plan with multiple strategies.
The Usual Suspects The 3 most common fl y pests for cattle in Texas are
the horn fl y, face fl y and stable or barn fl y. While they may appear similar, they each have different ways of stealing from your herd and your bank account. Each species can also require a different management ap-
50 The Cattleman January 2016
Face Fly
Stable Fly
Horn Fly
proach, so a comprehensive plan should include indi- vidual consideration. Horn Fly: At the top of your Most Wanted fl y list is the horn fl y, Haematobia irritans (L.). As its Latin name implies, this smallest of the pests is a bloodsucker and irritant. They take blood meals from cattle by piercing through the hide with their sharp mouthparts. When not feeding, they like to stay out of the heat by resting on the shady bellies of cows. Infestations result in cattle expending increasing
energy to escape the irritation, which reduces weight gain. Nebraska studies have demonstrated that calf- weaning weights were 10 to 20 pounds heavier when horn fl y management was used. Other studies showed that treated herds had an 18 percent weight gain ad- vantage vs. untreated animals when it came to stocker cattle and replacement heifers. Face Fly: Larger than the horn fl y, the face fl y (Musca autumnalis) is similar to the ubiquitous housefly. This species spends its time feeding on the secretions around the mouth, eyes and nostrils, and rests in nearby vegetation. While it does not pierce a cow’s hide for a blood meal, it will take advantage of open wounds and can transmit infections and bacteria such as infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, or pinkeye. MORE
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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