Fly season is here. The little pests cause significant loss of production and spread disease readily.
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The key to successful fly control with producer-applied products is applying a great-enough level of insecticide and at a frequent interval.
Controlling feedlot flies starts with sanitation. Without that key step, any other mitigation strategies will likely be disappointments. Stable flies breed in mixtures of spilled feed and manure – especially around feeding aprons, under feed bunks, in feed-storage areas and under fences. Any wet or stagnant area with combinations of organic matter, manure and soil can be a potential trouble spot. Removing feed and manure from those areas promptly deprives the flies of potential breeding areas, which in turns helps prevent explosive increases in fly populations.
Stable flies are most active between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; after that they seek shaded areas to roost. Eliminating weedy areas around the edges of pens, near feed-storage areas or along the edges of manure-containment facilities reduces the number of “safe spaces” for flies – which should help keep populations in check. The life cycle of a stable fly lasts about two to three weeks, so scraping pens every 14 days reduces opportunities for flies to reproduce. Hoof action also disrupts the life cycle, so keeping pens fully stocked will help to reduce fly numbers – if mud issues can be avoided. – South Dakota State University
Tony Hawkins
Dr. Tony Hawkins is a Valley Vet Supply technical-service veterinarian. He attended Kansas State University-College of Veterinary Medicine where he focused on mixed-animal practice. Before joining the technical-service veterinarian team at Valley Vet Supply, Hawkins practiced veterinary medicine in Marysville, Kansas, where he was involved in cattle health – including processing, obstetrical work and servicing the local sale barn. He’s treasured by the community for his care of horses and pets, through wellness appointments and surgery.
Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with animal-health solutions. Building on more than half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications selected by Valley Vet Supply Technical Service veterinarians and team of industry professionals. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states, and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Valley Vet Supply is a source for horse, livestock and pet supplies. Visit ValleyVet.com for more information.
