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Post By francismilker
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Post By rambotex
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Post By idigbeets
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Post By genebo
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07/02/14, 09:14 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 41
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Controlling flies on cattle
I have 7 heifers on pasture and we've had ALOT of rain this month. Any way to control flies on them? I can get close to them but probably not close enough to spray/wipe, etc. Or am I just overreacting and shouldn't worry? I hate seeing them swatting!
Thanks in advance!
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07/02/14, 09:48 PM
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My name is not Alice
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: On a dirt road in Missouri
Posts: 4,185
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Get face flyps & a rub tube. Cheap and easy and effective. And too many flies is detrimental to their health. Definitely don't ignore them.
__________________
Honesty and integrity are homesteading virtues.
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07/03/14, 06:56 AM
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Udderly Happy!
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,830
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If they're drinking from a water trough put about two cups per hundred gallons of water apple cider vinegar in it.
If you have a way to coral them, put apple cider vinegar in a pump up sprayer and spray their tail heads and back down real good.
Otherwise, get some loose cattle mineral with fly control in it.
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Francismilker
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16
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07/03/14, 12:39 PM
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: East Texas
Posts: 440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Possum Belly
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Possum has the winner. My old daddy-In-Law used to pour Diesel on his, worked good
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07/03/14, 06:49 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,488
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I have to laugh that the linked article says no to diesel fuel :P
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07/03/14, 07:36 PM
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Guest
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idigbeets
I have to laugh that the linked article says no to diesel fuel :P
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I agree, diesel has always been good to use on a rub.
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07/04/14, 09:24 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,554
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The directions on a bottle of permethrin says to mix it with diesel for use in a backrubber.
My vet says to count the number of flies on a cow and ignore it if the count is under 50.
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07/05/14, 04:43 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,488
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I've been told to count on the face, and above 30 its an issue...
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07/05/14, 10:51 PM
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My name is not Alice
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: On a dirt road in Missouri
Posts: 4,185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idigbeets
I've been told to count on the face, and above 30 its an issue...
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30 on the face is an issue, no doubt about it. But I've had cows that had a carpet of flies mid flank and virtually none on their face. I don't think all flies are the same.
__________________
Honesty and integrity are homesteading virtues.
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07/06/14, 05:53 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,488
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I agree, our dairy cows have tons on their flanks at times, and no face. The Angus, the opposite.... thank goodness for fly rubs.
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07/06/14, 06:21 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NY
Posts: 2,276
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Depends on what type of fly. Those nasty green vampires are enough to create misery with one or two. The black flies that come in the spring that leave welts for weeks....come to think of it, not many are nice. No wonder I really like toads and swallows. I think the guineas have helped some. They are industrious, ugly, but busy. They cover acres a day, eating bugs.
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07/06/14, 08:33 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: VA
Posts: 1,706
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Yes, guineas are worth their weight in gold. Noisy, but I wish I had more of them, just have two now. The last batch I raised began to fly, roosted in the cedars and got picked off one by one at night, either owls or raccoons?
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07/07/14, 08:54 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,554
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If all else fails, let the chickens pick the flies off.
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07/07/14, 09:36 PM
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My name is not Alice
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: On a dirt road in Missouri
Posts: 4,185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by genebo
If all else fails, let the chickens pick the flies off.
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In this case, it beats a fly swatter.
__________________
Honesty and integrity are homesteading virtues.
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07/08/14, 06:49 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,105
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I love using Guineas for our insect control, but for my bull, I am thankfully able to spray him down daily with Pyrahna (sp?) fly spray.
I love the back rubber idea though, will have to look into that when we have cattle here again.
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