anybody know of a natural, non-toxic fly control for just a couple cattle

[hedgeapple]

just have a couple cattle right now, but would like to know if there is a natural, non-toxic substance to put on a cattle rub or if there are any other suggestions other than buying chemicals/pesticides. thanks in advance

[javabrain]

I read that misting them with red vinegar works. I sprayed mine with white vinegar and it kept the flies off for a while. I ended up buying a cattle spray. I also saved large pop bottles and half filled them with fish/meat stock and made fly traps out of them. They worked real well for cutting down the numbers of flies. Free range chickens and guineas do a lot too.

[genebo]

Muscovy ducks do a great job of spreading manure so it dries out and won't hatch fly larvae. They will range over a greater area than chickens, which tend to stay close to the hen house.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[linn]

I use a quart of vinegar with a couple of drops of dish detergent, 1 tsp. citronella essential oil, 1 tsp. lemongrass essential oil and 1 tsp lavender essential oil. It works for a while.

These formulas are from: http://www.gentlespiritllamas.com/html/tips/insects.htm

1:

This spray is said to last all day and can be “sweetened” by adding a few drops of lavender.

4 oz. Skin So Soft from Avon

1 oz. Citronella oil – health food grade

½ oz. Eucalyptus oil

1 T vanilla

12 oz. Cider vinegar

12 oz. Water


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#2:

¼ cup of Dawn dish soap

1 and ½ cup vinegar

1 capful of Skin So Soft

Mix with one quart of water and it is ready to spray


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#3:

2 T of eucalyptus oil

2 T of Skin So Soft

Mix with one quart of water and it is ready to spray


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#4:

10 drops each of good quality pennyroyal and citronella

¼ cup of almond oil

a few drops of glycerin

Can be used in this mixture or added to water. You must keep shaking the mixture if added with water.


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#5:

2 tsp tea tree oil

2 tsp liquid vitamin E

4 oz of regular Desitin

Mix together. It will be the consistency of honey. It is said to work well on those insect irritated bare spots most commonly seen on the ears and nose.

Some folks swear by additives to the diet. An “old” horse remedy advocates adding apple cider vinegar into the water source. (It is said that white vinegar will have the same result.) It might take a short time for the alpacas and llamas to adjust to the taste but within three weeks; the number of flies on the animals should have lessened significantly.

Fresh garlic seems to have the ability to change our smell and taste and insects tend to avoid it. Fresh garlic is also considered an excellent antibiotic.

The complete B-Complex is said to also have the ability to change our smell and taste.

[hedgeapple]

thanks for the tips, the cider vinegar suggestion looks quick and simple, might try that one first.

[prairiegirl]

Another quick remedy is spraying them with minty mouthwash. It doesn't last long, but does offer them some quick relief.

prairiegirl

[JHinCA]

I've tried the citronella/vinegar concoctions and they seem to work for about 10 minutes.

This year I'm using oil based No Fly from Crystal Creek. I tried it out only putting it on the right sides of the milk cows in the morning and at evening milking their right sides were still pretty much fly free. It's kind of expensive, but it looks like one gallon will do it for the whole season for 2 cows.

[hedgeapple]

i went to the crystal creek website, looks like it may have possibilities, thanks again