Horn flies pose a serious threat to herd health by spreading disease. With their painful bites and rapid reproduction, these tiny pests can introduce infections that impact milk production, weight gain, and overall profitability. Understanding the effects associated with horn flies and taking preventive measures, like using Altosid® IGR, can help protect your herd from these harmful effects.
Identifying Horn Flies and Their Impact on Cattle
Horn flies are small, grayish biting flies with two distinct stripes on their thorax. Unlike other flies, they stay on the backs of cattle for most of their lives, feeding on blood and laying eggs in fresh cattle manure. Their bites cause irritation and stress, leading to tail swishing, twitching, and reduced grazing. However, their impact goes beyond discomfort; they can transmit harmful bacteria that lead to disease.
Mastitis is a common and costly disease in cattle, occurring when bacteria enter the teat canal and cause inflammation. Horn flies play a key role in spreading mastitis-causing bacteria by feeding on the teats of infected cows and transferring pathogens to healthy animals. This disease damages milk-producing tissues, leading to:
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Decreased milk production
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Blind quarters (non-functional sections of the udder)
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Reduced weaning weights for calves
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Long-term herd profitability losses
Mastitis transmitted by horn flies is especially concerning in beef cattle, where infections may go unnoticed until significant damage has already occurred.
Why Prevention is Key
Once a disease like mastitis takes hold, it can be challenging to control. Preventing horn fly populations from reaching harmful levels is the most effective way to reduce disease transmission and protect herd health. Left untreated, horn fly infestations can reach over 4,000 flies per animal, causing stress and weakening the immune system of cattle, making them more susceptible to infections.
How Altosid® IGR Can Help
The best way to combat horn fly-related disease is to stop infestations before they start. Altosid® IGR is a feed-through insect growth regulator (IGR) that works by preventing horn fly larvae from developing into adults. When mixed into cattle feed or minerals, Altosid® IGR helps:
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Reduce horn fly populations at the source (manure)
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Lower the risk of disease transmission by horn flies
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Improve overall herd health and productivity
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Increase weight gains and milk production by reducing fly-related stress
Protect Your Herd with Proactive Fly Control
Horn flies may be small, but their impact on cattle health and profits is significant. By integrating Altosid® IGR into your herd management program, you can break the horn fly life cycle and help reduce the spread of mastitis and other problems. Don't let horn flies take a bite out of your profits---take action today to keep your cattle comfortable, healthy, and productive.
