flies!!!

wvdexters · #1 05/26/12, 09:06 PM

Summer is here and so are the flies. I have two dexter heifers what do you recommend?

goodhors · #2 05/26/12, 09:50 PM

Our cattle were handled a lot, wore bells on collars to keep them located. I tied on a couple fly ear tags on the collars, so they helped keep things under control a bit better. I tied the tags so they could flop a bit when cow shook their head and neck, spread the protection. Collars with bells and tags were put on each morning before turning the cattle out.

I also mowed and dragged the pastures pretty regular, so no manure build up. No old hay piles, old bale messes for breeding grounds. I didn't think the cattle pulled any more flies in than when we didn't have cattle. I tried to no let water tanks get mucky so flies had less wet areas to breed in. No manure piles around the barn. Cow stalls cleaned daily.

Kid had these for 4-H projects, so we handled them daily, they got stalled at night for protection from possible loose dogs in a suburban area. With no horns they had little defenses.

I HATE flies, so insisted on clean stalls, clean animals, with bedding spread daily. There are a variety of fly traps you can locate around the barn or outside the paddock to attract flies and kill them. You do have to "know your flies" to figure which type of trap will be effective to catch them. I don't use flypaper because the barn swallows have gotten caught in it which is pretty nasty. Swallows are GREAT bug eaters, so you WANT them working for you all the time!

G. Seddon · #3 05/27/12, 07:02 AM

I think goodhors covered this well! It has to be attacked from a number of directions.

We use fly predators also. I "think" they have a positive benefit. The year I used insecticidal eartags (Bayer makes them) I noticed a BIG difference. And with small cattle, you may only need one eartag on each cow. I also use a pour-on but have noticed that it doesn't last nearly as long as stated on the bottle and that's becoming more noticeable every year.

Genebo's muscovy ducks are part of his fly control problem. I'm very tempted but worry that they'd become fox and raccoon food...we have enough problems with bantams running around.

Fly control is a problem every summer.

Callieslamb · #4 05/27/12, 04:02 PM

Do the ear tags keep the flies on their legs under control? Mine are stomping their feet continuously for leg flies.

wvdexters · #5 05/28/12, 09:48 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like I have some work to do. The girls aren't in the barn this time of year but I have a pretty big pile of manure outside I've been using in my garden. Gotta get that out of there and spread. I will be putting on the ear tags, and checking into the traps. I've never tried those before. The local fox found my ducks last year. Too bad because they did a great job and were a lot of fun to watch.

Thanks again!

farmgirl6 · #6 05/29/12, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvdexters

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like I have some work to do. The girls aren't in the barn this time of year but I have a pretty big pile of manure outside I've been using in my garden. Gotta get that out of there and spread. I will be putting on the ear tags, and checking into the traps. I've never tried those before. The local fox found my ducks last year. Too bad because they did a great job and were a lot of fun to watch.

Thanks again!

if the manure is well piled and turned and managed you might be okay, the heat from the pile should kill the eggs...we have had a terrible time this year, and I use preditors (just started) small mist sprayers in each building, one spot (horse version, expensive but works better) and fly blocks and traps, have noticed the difference since I started full assault!