Fly Control? Organic/safe for beef cow, etc.

[weendogmom]

Can anyone help out with some ideas on fly control? We have two beef calves and a donkey that are getting bitten something awful by these nasty blood sucking flies.

Donkey refuses to let me spray her. Need something to pour on? Have read some product descriptions and they don't seem to mention biting flies and are about controlling reproduction?

As for the calves, they are for future beef - I would like to stick to something that I don't have to worry about being absorbed into their bodies and our meat supply. I have tried some herbal spray on, but it seems to have limited effect.

[agmantoo]

Fly Control?

[happydog]

We use fly masks on our cows. They're great for keeping the flies out of their eyes. I didn't get one on my calf soon enough and he got pinkeye, which I'm now treating.

Last year we tried the free trial from Arbico Organics for fly predators. It worked so well we went ahead and bought them for the rest of the summer. It probably reduced our flys by about 80-90%. We have a herd of cows, a horse, pigs and poulty. A whole lotta poop around this place.

This year we bought a years subscription for the fly predators. They really work. And apparently after you've been using them for a few years you don't have to buy them anymore, they reproduce on their own.

Someone else with cows told me she swears by Avon's Skin So Soft for flies. I haven't tried that yet. I'd be curious to hear if anyone else has.