Late Season Fly Control: Finish Strong and Get a Jump on Next Season
Flies are an unavoidable nuisance when it comes to cattle production. However, with good management practices we can take some of their sting out of the equation.
While the majority of cattle producers are on top of fly control programs in the spring and summer that focus can shift as we get into late summer and early fall. This change in due diligence can allow fly populations to bounce back and set up a flood for the following spring. However, if we keep our fly mitigation programs in place through the first frost, we can make a difference not only in future populations but also in animal performance and comfort.
Why should I care about flies when my cattle are on pasture?
The simple answer is money. Horn flies cost the beef industry over $1 billion in lost performance, including lower weaning weights. These small flies spend their entire life (10-20 days) on cattle, only leaving to lay eggs in fresh manure. Horn flies are blood feeders, and each will feed on cattle an average of 35 times per day. These constant bites from horn fly populations lead to irritability and cause cattle tend to bunch together in an attempt to escape the flies. The decrease in grazing time leads to lowered milk production, which in turn can decrease weaning weights by as much as 12 to 14 pounds.
How long should I be offering feed-thru fly control?
For the best control, it’s recommended to start offering a feed-thru fly control product 30 days before the last frost. This ensures that adequate levels of the active ingredient will be present in the manure when the first adults emerge in the spring. Producers should continue to offer feed-thru fly control for 30 days after the first killing frost in the fall. It’s important to remember that feed-thru fly control does not affect existing adult populations, and appropriate steps should be taken to knock down adult populations.
I see fewer flies in July, so I’m good, right?
In a typical season, there are two horn fly population spikes, one in June and a second in August through September. Why is that? In June, temperatures tend to be steady, with warm overnights and usually plenty of rain. This makes for ideal egg development environments.
July tends to be hotter and drier, which causes the manure pats to dry out faster, delaying larval development. Flies have developed the ability to pause larval development (diapause) until conditions are more favorable. This is why there is a second population spike in August and September. Daytime temperatures can be lower with the possibility of more precipitation, allowing those eggs that went into diapause in July to resume development, in addition to new eggs developing.
Diapause also allows developing larvae to overwinter under the manure pat. These larvae will burrow into the soil and remain there until temperatures rise in the spring. Maintaining fly control programs through the first killing frost can help minimize the number of larvae that will develop into adults the following spring.
Other Steps to Consider
Feed-thru fly control products are just one tool for controlling horn fly populations and are an integral part of an integrated pest management plan. There isn’t one blueprint for an integrated pest management plan, as not all operations are the same. Each operation should evaluate situations and solutions and make a plan that best fits their needs and management. Implementation of a pest management plan should include measures to control adults as well as preventing the next generation. Finally, evaluating the plan at several points during the fly season is crucial to maintain an acceptable level of control.
Kent Nutrition Group offers a number of free-choice supplements with Altosid® for season long horn fly control. Our Framework 365 Mineral® offers a number of formula options to suit the changing needs of your herd during the grazing season. Our highly palatable mineral ensures that all cattle will consume mineral, helping to maintain trace mineral status, as well as getting the right level of Altosid in the manure.
For those who prefer low moisture blocks to loose mineral, our EnergiLass® product line has options for cattle on pasture as well. Providing mineral and energy supplementation to compliment summer grazing and adequate levels of Altosid to help maintain ideal fly control.
Regardless of the form you prefer for the feed-thru fly control, it’s important to remember that Altosid only prevents the emergence of new flies from the manure of treated cattle, and adequate and constant consumption is required to see control.
To learn more about our Framework 365 Mineral or EnergiLass, please get in touch with your local Kent dealer, or contact us at (866) 647-1212.
Altosid® is a registered trademark of Wellmark International.