Fly Face Cover?

[mycowLilly]

My poor Lilly is being barraged by flies. I clean her corrall daily and put the manuer in closed bags treated with spray to control the fly population. I've purchased the wasp larve to keep down the flies without success... and I've purchased the Manna concentrated animal and premises control spray. I don't know what else to do. Unfortunately, a new neighbor up the street has horses, and I'm thinking I'm getting their flies. I try putting anti-fly stuff on her face daily... but those darn things keep getting at the corners of her eyes. Last night she looked like she was crying! Are there face covers for cows like for horses?

[~Tomboy~]

Fly tags for their ears are the only thing that works for us. I have never seen face covers on cows, besides that how do you protect the rest of their body? We do have to change them out at least twice a year, but they sure do work.

[mycowLilly]

Thank you Barbara -- any suggestions where I can get the ear tags? Lilly is my first cow...

[farmergirl]

I would think you could find the ear tags at a local feed and general store. We've had good luck controlling flies on our farm by allowing our poultry to roam free. They scratch in the manure and eat the fly larva and spread the pile out so it dries.

[Madsaw]

Would of caution with ear tags. When the cow bats her ears they hit her in the eyes and cause eye problems also. The era tags are just treated with a insecticide so might be just as easy to appy it by hand. Then chance her getting bad eyes witht eh tags.
Bob

[~Tomboy~]

If you can't find them at any of the local feed stores, you can order them via catalog.

Valley Vets website: http://www.valleyvet.com/
Jeffers : http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/

There are several different types, if you do use fly tags it's best to rotate between permethrin and the organophosphate (diazinon) so flys do not become resistant to them.

If you don't want to tag their ears, there are also cattle rubs or fly bags. This is like a large rope treated with insecticide. It is placed between two trees or posts, as an animal walks underneath to get food or water it rubs the insecticide down it's back. I know Valley Vet sells these also.

I know insecticides are not the natural way to go, but I just can't seem to find anything better that works.

Your Lily is a really nice looking girl, congratulations and enjoy her.

[farmergirl]

Forgot to mention that I have occassionally used the horse fly spray on our jersey, with good results, when the flies are bugging her. I use a citronella based spray. She is more sensitive to the flies than our beef cattle are.

[~Tomboy~]

Well, a light bulb just went off! Guess I'm a little slow today.

Is Lilly your only heifer/cow? Fly tags normally only come in packs, not to economical for you. It probably would be best as Madsaw suggests to apply by hand (wearing gloves).
Madsaw in the years I've been using fly tags thank goodness I've never had a problem with there eyes. The only problem I've heard of is sometimes infections can happen where the hole in the ear is. Do not use on young calves.

[Madsaw]

Originally Posted by ~Tomboy~

Well, a light bulb just went off! Guess I'm a little slow today.

Is Lilly your only heifer/cow? Fly tags normally only come in packs, not to economical for you. It probably would be best as Madsaw suggests to apply by hand (wearing gloves).
Madsaw in the years I've been using fly tags thank goodness I've never had a problem with there eyes. The only problem I've heard of is sometimes infections can happen where the hole in the ear is. Do not use on young calves.

Just a few questions about how you used them. Did you put the tag on the front of the ear or back?
We stopped using them many yrs ago. We had more trouble with eye damage witht ehmthen with out. When they wipe their ears to swat flys it hung down just right to slap the eye ball. A full day of this you had a infected eye. Last yrs the vet attached some due to dehorning late in the spring. Man what a problem. Infected ears and a few bad eyes. Cut the tags out eyes cleared right up and was good to go.
I have used the horse fly spray on cattle too. Seems horses are more senitive to chemicals then cattle so it does not bother the cattle. It comes in a conveinent bottle too. Just spray it on and good for some time.
Bob

[G. Seddon]

Try Durasect II -- it's a pour-on that works well.

http://www.cattlestore.com/p-119-pfi...rasect-ii.aspx

The fly predators take a while to get established. Between the fly predators, removing manure, and the pour-on, I think you may notice a difference.

[~Tomboy~]

Madsaw, we placed the tags in the front, approximately 2-3 inches from the ear hole, in the center of the ear between the veins. I do have pics, but I'm computer naive with that kind of stuff.

Hey Seddons, how ya doing?

[G. Seddon]

Hey there, Ms. N!!! All is well here, hot but still somewhat green, thankfully!