Horseflies!

[Rtolley]

The horseflies are brutal this year! Constantly biting the cattle. What causes them to be so bad? Water? We have a quarter section, but 100 acres of that happens to be under water due to a major flood problem and lack of help from the RM. many people are suffering from the amount of water sitting around. Is it possible the horseflies are so bad because of the amount of water? I've noticed they're a lot heavier around the water. Help please!

Prince Albert, Sk. Canada
ImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1403636962.558651.jpg


Ryley

[aoconnor1]

We, too, are having a bad fly issue this summer. Ours is due to the amount of rain we have gotten, or at least that's what my vet told me. I tend to believe him, we have had a lot main this summer than we normally get, and we have a lot of standing water, so the flies as well as mosquitoes are bad here.

[MO_cows]

From U of Ky web site:
Permethrin-based sprays are labeled for application to livestock and horses. These insecticides are very irritating to the flies and cause them to leave almost immediately after landing. Often, the flies are not in contact with the insecticide long enough to be killed so they continue to be an annoyance. These flies will swarm persistently around animals and feed where the spray coverage was not complete (underbelly or legs) or where it has worn off. Repeated applications may be needed. Check the label about minimum retreatment intervals. Pyrethrin sprays also are effective but do not last as long as permethrin.

Horse flies and deer flies like sunny areas and usually will not enter barns or deep shade. If animals have access to protection during the day, they can escape the constant attack of these annoying pests. They can graze at night when the flies are not active.

CONTROL

It is difficult to impossible to locate and/or eliminate breeding site of horse flies and deer flies. They breed in environmentally sensitive wetlands so effects of drainage or insecticide application on non-target organisms or water supplies is a concern. Also, these insects are strong fliers that can move in from some distance away. Breeding sites may be very extensive or some distance away from where problems are occurring.

[G. Seddon]

The horse flies seem to be here earlier than other years. The regular flies have forced me to resort to fly paper in the barns, nasty, sticky mess, but somewhat satisfying to see it fill up in a matter of a couple of days. We use fly predators too, but I've got no way to measure their impact.

I know that pour-on dewormers will keep flies away from the cows for a few days. Durasect II used to be fairly effective but hasn't been available for the last few years. Regular Durasect (in red container) is a waste of time and money.

Mine even have insecticide eartags, but this year's variety have been disappointing. With a large herd, it's probably cost prohibitive, but with our small group, I bite the bullet. The weanlings only get one, due to their size, but that isn't helping much either. I hate seeing the animals suffer from the flies!!!

All that being said, horse flies seem impervious to anything! Something to be said for winter, right?

[genebo]

YouTube

You can buy these at a lot of different places.

My neighbor bought one of these and swears by it. He says it keeps a 10 acre pasture clear of biting flies. He has to clean the dead flies out every day.

He told me that it needs a fence around it to keep the cattle from bumping into it and damaging it.

I'm saving up to get one.

[Rtolley]

Thank you, for all of the help and ideas, it's greatly appreciated!


Ryley

[ufo_chris]

Originally Posted by genebo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIlD9h8ebyg

You can buy these at a lot of different places.

My neighbor bought one of these and swears by it. He says it keeps a 10 acre pasture clear of biting flies. He has to clean the dead flies out every day.

He told me that it needs a fence around it to keep the cattle from bumping into it and damaging it.

I'm saving up to get one.

Somebody on here was gonna make a homemade version and post it and materials ....
I tried to make one a couple of years ago,it actually workket, but it got blown apart from the wind....I just dont want to spent that kinda money and then have it destroyed by wind !

[aoconnor1]

Originally Posted by genebo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIlD9h8ebyg

You can buy these at a lot of different places.

My neighbor bought one of these and swears by it. He says it keeps a 10 acre pasture clear of biting flies. He has to clean the dead flies out every day.

He told me that it needs a fence around it to keep the cattle from bumping into it and damaging it.

I'm saving up to get one.

Boy, I'd like to try one of these around my barn area. We are so inundated by flies this year... But it is a little pricey. Will have to look into it more. Thanks for the info:-)