flies-how much is too much?

greenhorn · #1 05/28/10, 03:49 PM

This is our first spring into summer with cattle and I'm amazed at the number of flies on these poor animals! My Guernsey looks like she's wearing a fake beard! I'm not sure if this is normal or if there is any recommended way to help control flies in a pasture setting. They are pastured with a 3 sider for shelter and shade from woods along the fence. i don't mind using chemical things if that will help, but the less chemical the better....

Is this just part of being a cow or is there a solution from you experienced folk? Thanks!

Callieslamb · #2 05/28/10, 06:12 PM

I use horse spray when needed. If they are spending too much time in the shade way from the flies they aren't eating enough. There are also powders you put in bags. Hang the bags in a place they have to walk through. You might google 'fly predators' also. I hear they are really good too.

luvmyjersey1 · #3 05/30/10, 10:26 PM

I spray once a week with pyrethrin on the cows. Using the fly predators for the third year. Significantly less flies in the barn and last year did not have to use fly masks on the horses! The cows seem to attract more flies . I obviously don't have a good fly predator population in the cow areas yet. Has anyone fed diatomaceous earth to their cows for fly control?

RosewoodfarmVA · #4 05/31/10, 07:27 AM

We've never sprayed. Why use a chemical when good management can do the same thing? I've found that if the herd is moved atleast once a week, flies stay to a minimum. It takes 3 days for flies to hatch, assuming several days for cowpies to accumulate to provide for breeding material, you have a fly free window of almost a week. I've found that when I move the cows to a new pasture, the first 5 days are almost fly-free, then about 2 per cow for a couple of days, then after about a week the flies become more numerous. The herd is currently on a 3 acre pasture (17 cows) and have been there over 2 weeks, as the growth was exceedingly thick. They've almost finished eating it down, and the fly population is about 6 per cow and increasing. I prefer to move more often than that for the pasture's sake, but I would rather they do a good cleanup job (so I don't have to bushhog down the residue and leave a mat of cut forage).

It's not a "cow thing", it's how you manage the herd. I know of herds with 100+ that have very little flies because they are moved regularly. Moved regularly to fresh pasture, the flies will not get out of hand, as their breeding ground will be left behind and they will have to start over again.
I know of no natural way, short of removing all manure, to control flies in a confinement situation. Flies will breed prolifically in any manure and will not have to go far to the host cow and back to the manure again.

greenhorn · #5 05/31/10, 08:41 AM

They are pastured on 9 acres that are divided into 3 areas. Currently the electric on the third area is out or I'd put them on that. They are in the second area. The flies are mainly in the area between the 2nd and 3rd which has a 3 sider split between the 2 fields with electric and is also where the stock tank is.

I think another thing I'll try is to move the stock tank 100ft or so. When they drink and poop in the same general area and the water spills sometimes there are tons of flies!

I'm also getting ready to build 2 chicken tractors for meat birds, and I see being pastures "behind" the cows in their future

Dh bought a bug zapper that will at least limit the ones between the pasture and the house. I will check out the fly predators though I heard they work better as a prevention rather than in the middle of a fly episode? Any recommendations for suppliers you've had success with? Thanks!

RosewoodfarmVA · #6 05/31/10, 05:39 PM

I don't think you will get much benefit from rotation if the area you're moving them to abuts the old pasture, the flies won't have far to go. I try to make sure they are atleast 100 yards or more from where they were a week ago because the flies won't be able to travel as far. This means you can move them to an adjacent pasture but they need to be two pastures over within a week to cut down on fly travels... Yes moving the waterer will help the cowpies dry out some, and also move the cow 'lounging' place near the water.

The chickens will help to break up the cow patties and allow both the sun uv to hit it and also allow the patty to dry making it less hospitable to flies. However unless the chickens are free ranged (not tractored) you will get little benefit from them as they will not be able to get to most of the patties at the time they are full of larvae.

genebo · #7 05/31/10, 08:24 PM

I like muscovy ducks better than any other type of fly control. They stay in the pasture with the cattle, waiting for manure to hit the ground. They break the manure up into pea-sized pieces that rapidly dry out and won't hatch flies.

This is the first year I tried fly predators and the results were better than I expected. I put the larvae all around the barn and loafing places and the flies were totally gone for a couple of weeks. Finally a few flies appeared and gradually increased in number. I'm ready to order some more.

Between the ducks and the fly predators, control has been so good that I haven't charged the back rubber this year. I hate to use chemicals, too.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

DenMacII · #8 06/06/10, 12:18 AM

This thread has great information.

Does anyone have a preferred supplier for fly predators? I found a local company that has them drop shipped from an unnamed manufacturer; and also came across Spalding Labs which will ship at regular intervals during the next few months.

We have three Angus head that are rotated over just under 4 acres. The pasture is broken into 7 smaller pastures where they spend one week on and six weeks off each. With the summer warm up upon us we have seen an explosion of flies.

As always, your insight is awesome and always appreciated.

Dennis

linn · #9 06/06/10, 12:35 AM

We got a large free sample of Arbico fly predators. I haven't noticed many flies around the barn area.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/categ...ol-fly-control

Bret4207 · #10 06/07/10, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genebo

I like muscovy ducks better than any other type of fly control. They stay in the pasture with the cattle, waiting for manure to hit the ground. They break the manure up into pea-sized pieces that rapidly dry out and won't hatch flies.

This is the first year I tried fly predators and the results were better than I expected. I put the larvae all around the barn and loafing places and the flies were totally gone for a couple of weeks. Finally a few flies appeared and gradually increased in number. I'm ready to order some more.

Between the ducks and the fly predators, control has been so good that I haven't charged the back rubber this year. I hate to use chemicals, too.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

How do you keep the ducks from becoming coyote, hawk, owl or dog food?

ufo_chris · #11 06/11/10, 11:59 AM

Bret,unless you are really predator infested if you lock them up at dusk (or a little before) for the night that helps a lot! Ducks learn to come to your call really quick, just give them their food when they go in.

francismilker · #12 06/11/10, 01:46 PM

I spray them with pyrmethrin from a pump up sprayer as often as necessary while they are eating at a trough. You can also use Avon "skin-so-soft" and a sponge to keep the flies at bay. Apple cidar vinegar works as well.

Bret4207 · #13 06/12/10, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufo_chris

Bret,unless you are really predator infested if you lock them up at dusk (or a little before) for the night that helps a lot! Ducks learn to come to your call really quick, just give them their food when they go in.

Oh, you have them near the barn. My bad, our pastures run out a mile or so from the barn.