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Herd Health & Cattle CareFly Control on Beef Ranches
Flies cost cattle comfort and gain all summer. The ranches that keep them in check do it with sanitation and timing first, and with products second.
Key points
- Identify the fly species before choosing a plan.
- Sanitation and breeding-site control come first.
- Pick products by label and expert advice, and rotate as directed.
- Use gloves, eye protection, and secure storage for chemicals.
- Record results and review each season.
Know which fly you have
Horn flies sit on the back and shoulders and feed on blood. Face flies gather around eyes and noses and feed on moisture, and they spread pinkeye. Stable flies bite the legs and lower body and breed in wet, decaying material. House flies are more of a nuisance than a feeding pest.
Each species breeds in a different spot and shows up at a different time, so a program built around the wrong fly wastes money. Look closely, count flies on a few animals, and ask your extension office to help you identify them.
A quick habit helps here. Pick a few animals in each group and look at them at the same time of day each week. Rising counts tell you when to act before the cattle are visibly miserable.
Cut down breeding sites
Sanitation reduces the number of flies before any product goes on the animal. Horn and face flies breed in fresh cattle manure on pasture, while stable flies breed in old hay, spilled feed, and wet bedding. Cleaning up around feeding areas and hay storage removes many of those sites.
You cannot remove every pat in a big pasture, but you can cut the spots you control. Keep drains clear and fix leaks, and do not let feed and bedding sit and rot.
Where cattle bunch up around hay rings or shade, manure and waste feed build up fastest. Those spots are worth extra attention because they produce flies close to the herd.
- Clean up spilled feed and rotten hay
- Do not leave wet bedding to pile up
- Fix leaking waterers and drainage problems
- Spread or remove manure from lots and pens
- Move hay feeding areas now and then
Tools in a fly program
Ranches use several tools, such as ear tags, pour-ons, sprays, back rubbers, dust bags, and feed-through products. Each has advantages and limits depending on the fly and the setup, and some require cattle to pass the equipment often.
Choose by the label and by advice from your vet or extension specialist, and match the product to your cattle, including calves and lactating cows. Do not use anything not labeled for your class of cattle or fly, and do not combine products without guidance.
Ear tags and similar devices are usually timed to the start of the fly season and removed when the label says to. Leaving old tags on can encourage resistance, so follow the instructions about removal.
Timing and resistance
Flies can become resistant to products that are used the same way every year. Rotating the type of product used, as your vet or extension specialist advises, is a way to slow this down. Timing also matters, since a product that goes on too early may run out when flies peak.
Watch fly numbers during the season. If a product seems to stop working, tell your vet or extension office instead of just buying more.
Keep the label's directions about how many animals and how long a product lasts. Underdosing and overextending a product both hurt results.
Safety with chemicals and cattle
Read every label. Wear the gloves, eye protection, and clothing it calls for. Store products in their original containers, in a locked place, away from feed, water, and children. Follow OSHA, manufacturer, and extension guidance for handling and disposal.
Tag, spray, and pour-on work often means handling cattle in a chute. Use proper restraint and keep your hands clear of pinch points. Do not rush.
Keep your vet's and the poison control number handy, and keep spill supplies where you store products. Dispose of empty containers as the label and local rules direct.
Records and review
Write down what you used, when, on which cattle, and how things went. A simple note on fly counts before and after helps you judge whether a method was worth it. Include any required withdrawal times in your records.
At the end of the season, review with your vet or extension specialist. Ask what worked, what to change, and what flies might do next year.
Common mistakes
Treating too late, using the same product every year, skipping sanitation, using products not labeled for the cattle or flies in question, and ignoring label safety rules are the usual errors. Another is forgetting that flies carry disease, including pinkeye. Combine fly control with eye checks, and call your vet if cattle show signs of eye trouble. Follow all withdrawal times exactly.
Walk the herd's eyes, legs, and bellies as well as backs when you check, since face flies and stable flies are easy to miss from a distance.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.