Helping our Livestock Fight off Flies

Summer is finally here and our livestock friends may be struggling from those flies that come with the heat. With fly season coming in strong it is important that we offer our livestock relief. If cattle are dodging flies and not grazing, cows will not be producing as much milk for calves causing calves to decrease their weight gain during these months due to not getting the nutrition they need. Also with flies they can be carriers of pinkeye for any of our animals. 

So what are some things we can do to help our livestock out?

1. Offer feed through insecticides and larvicides by ways of minerals or feeds. These help to kill larvae and eggs that are laid in manure.
2. Hang up rubs or dust bags. When hanging them make sure that you hang them in places where they have to travel to get to food or water sources. Also be sure that you keep dust in bags and that rubs have fly control products on them. 
3. Use Fly Ear tags. Many products call for 2 tags per head of cattle and 1 tag per head for calves. Make sure these tags are used according to product labels. 
4. Use Concentration sprays to spray barns and other areas for fly control. Make sure the product dries before livestock come in contact.

1. Use fly sprays each day if possible. Requiring more hands on with your animal. 
2. Use a feed through fly control that will kill both larvae and eggs in manure. 
3. Use fly baits or sticky traps in barn areas to help capture and kill flies. When using fly baits and sticky traps be sure to place them in areas where livestock cannot reach them. 
4. Use fly masks and fly sheets. Using a fly mask will help keep flies out of the horses eyes and for some out of their ears. Fly sheets will also protect the body from biting flies that could land where the horse cannot reach.
5. Use Concentration sprays to spray barns and other areas for fly control. Make sure the product dries before livestock come in contact.

1. Offer dust baths with appropriate insecticides in them to prevent not only flies but lice as well. Keep dust baths in an area where they can stay dry.
2. Hang fly traps or sticky traps in coops if able, and be sure to hang them where your birds cannot have access to the traps.
3.  Use Concentration sprays to spray barns and other areas for fly control. Make sure the product dries before livestock come in contact.

1. Use fly strips and traps in barns and other holding areas. Hang traps and strips where livestock cannot access them.
2. Use Concentration sprays to spray barns and other areas for fly control. Make sure the product dries before livestock come in contact. 
3. Use concentrations or premixed fly control to spray directly onto livestock.

With all of these products, follow label instructions for use. For animals used for meat, pay attention to labels for any withdrawal time for each product. For each type of livestock keep the barn or any other area where your livestock gather often as clean and as dry as possible to help keep flies at a minimum. If you have any questions or need any additional information contact Bailee at the extension office by phone or email at 336-694-4158 ext. 5 or bailee_perkins@ncsu.edu