Dairy Cow

  Fly Control on Animals -Stable Fly, Horn Fly, and Face Fly

FLY CONTROL ON ANIMALS:
STABLE FLY, HORN FLY
and
FACE FLY


By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist


 

  Dust bags Co-Ral 1% D, 3% Rabon or 0.25% Ectiban, Insectrin, Permectrin D may be used. Dust bags are most effective when set up in a forced-use situation such as at the exit to milking parlors, across barn doors, entrances to watering sites and on feeders.
For more information see publication ENT-42, "Dust bags for Cattle Insect Control".

Back Rubbers and Face Rubbers

Insecticide Amount per 1 gal of fuel oil
(mixing ratio insecticide : fuel oil)
Co-Ral 11.6% EC (coumaphos) 1-1/4 cups (1:13)
Atroban 11% EC, Ectiban 5.7% EC, Expar 11% EC, Delice PO, GardStar 40% EC, Insectrin 10% EC, Permectrin II 10% EC (permethrin) Varies with formulation, see label.
Ravap 28.7% EC (stirofos + dichlorvos) 5 fl oz in 1 gal

Use only No. 2 diesel oil, No. 2 fuel oil, or label-recommended mineral oil to dilute concentrate. Do not use waste oil or motor oil. Use one gallon of oil solution per 20 ft of backrubber. Do not use these dilutions as sprays. As with dust bags, these devices are most effective when placed in force-used areas such as milking room exit doors and entrances to watering sites.

Bolus Vigilante 9.7% (diflubenzuron) is available for fly control. The active ingredient is gradually released from the bolus and prevents development of face fly and horn fly larvae in manure. Use standard balling gun. For best results, all cattle in herd should be treated. See the product label for dosage rates. Feed additives target fly maggots breeding in fresh animal manure. Research results indicate that results can be very variable. All animals must eat a minimal dose of a feed additive regularly. Supplementary control measures must be taken to deal with flies moving in from nearby herds. Moorman's 0.02% IGR Cattle Mix (methoprene) at the rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound per 100 lbs body weight per month or Rabon 7.76% Premix or 97.3% Oral Larvicide (stirofos) fed at the rate of 70 milligrams of active ingredient per 100 lbs body weight per day may reduce numbers of some flies on cattle.

Animal Sprays

Insecticide Amount/25 gal water
Atroban 11% EC, Expar 11% EC, GardStar
40% EC, Hardhitter, Insectrin 10% EL,
Permectrin II (permethrin)
See product label for dilution and application rates.
spinosad - Elector 2.46%L 10 fl oz / 5 gal
Pyrethrins + synergist Ready-to-Use
Ravap 28.7% EC (stirofos + dichlorvos) See label. Do not apply to teats of lactating animals. Do not treat calves less than 6 mo old. Apply at least 20 min before or after milking.
Spray lactating cows after milking. Do not contaminate feed, water, milk, or milking equipment.

Pour-On Insecticides

Several products containing the active ingredient permethrin may be used on lactating dairy cattle. Examples include Atroban Boss, Brute, CyLence, DeLice, Expar, and Permectrin CDS. Other labeled pests include lice and stable flies.

Insecticide Impregnated Ear Tags for Lactating Dairy Cattle (number of tags per animal)
Synthetic Pyrethroid Tags (P) Combination Tags P + OP
Atroban/Atroban Extra/Apollo/Deckem/
Ear Force/Expar Extra/Gard Star/ New Z
Permethrin/Permectrin Insecticide Ear Tags (10% permethrin) (2)
Max-Con (cypermethrin + chlorpyrifos) (2)
CyLence Ultra (8% beta-cyfluthrin)  
Ectrin and others (8% fenvalerate) (2) Organophosphate Tags (OP)
Cutter Gold (10% cyfluthrin) (2) Commando (ethion) (2)
PYython/ZetaGard (zeta-cypermethrin) (1) Cutter Blue (20% fenthion) (2)

Insecticide ear tags can provide good control of horn flies and may provide some reduction in face fly numbers. Horn fly resistance to the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin has become a significant problem in Kentucky.
See ENTFACT 501, Managing Pyrethroid-Resistant Horn Flies.

Install tags after flies first appear in the spring (late May or early June). Use on calves and mature cattle. Remove tags at the end of the fly season (Sept or Oct). If insecticide resistance is suspected, or if pyrethroid ear tags were used the previous year, organophosphate (OP) tags (Cutter Blue) are recommended or switch to other control devices such as dust bags or sprays. Organophosphate ear tags effectively control pyrethroid-resistant horn flies but are somewhat less effective against face flies.