Effective fly control is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of livestock. Flies not only pose a nuisance to animals but can also significantly impact their health and productivity. Randy Knight, regional sales manager at Central Life Sciences, provides valuable insights on effective strategies for controlling fly populations in cattle, emphasizing the importance of targeted solutions.
ClariFly® Larvicide: Comprehensive Fly Control for Confined Animals
ClariFly® Larvicide is a feed-through product registered for controlling four types of flies: house fly, stable fly, horn fly, and face fly. This product is particularly effective in confinement situations, making it ideal for use in dairies, feedlots, and other environments where animals are kept in close quarters.
ClariFly® Larvicide is the only feed-through on the market approved for 5 species of animals and 4 fly types. Knight emphasizes its versatility, noting that it covers various species and operational situations, from dairy and beef cattle to horses, sheep, goats, and swine.
"When we're in a confined situation, we have all different kinds of mediums. In such environments, where spilled feed, old silage, manure, and other organic matter abound, effective fly control is essential to mitigate the risk of infestation and its associated consequences”, Knight notes.
Target Species and Situations:
- House Fly: A non-biting fly that transfers diseases and can impact production due to nuisance and stress behaviors in livestock.
- Stable Fly: A biting fly that can quickly impact production, reducing feed consumption, reducing reproductive efficiency and serves as a major source of stress due to its painful bite.
- Face Fly: Primarily a concern in the northern United States, this non-biting fly feeds on tears, mucus and other secretions, and is a main vector for bovine pinkeye.
- Horn Fly: A small biting fly that costs the US cattle industry over $1 billion a year in lost production and control costs.
Altosid® IGR: Targeted Control for Horn Flies on Pasture
Altosid® IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) is another effective feed-through product from Central Life Sciences, specifically designed to target horn flies in pasture settings. Unlike ClariFly® Larvicide, Altosid® IGR is focused solely on horn flies, which are the primary fly concern for cattle on pasture.
How Altosid® IGR Works:
- Horn Flies: These small flies only reproduce in intact cow manure pats. Altosid® IGR is highly effective in controlling horn fly populations, stopping the larvae from developing into adult flies, all without extra time or labor.
Altosid® IGR has been a reliable horn fly solution since its introduction in 1973, and its efficacy remains strong. It is recommended for use in pastures because horn flies will not develop in disturbed manure found in confinement settings. "When we talk to a producer, the horn fly is really the fly of his concern," Knight asserts.
By focusing on the primary pest and leveraging targeted solutions like Altosid® IGR, producers can optimize control efforts while minimizing costs.
Integrated Pest Management: Combining Products for Optimal Control
While feed-through products like ClariFly® Larvicide and Altosid® IGR play a critical role in fly control, they are most effective when used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.
Central Life Sciences offers a range of complementary products from the Starbar® product line, including baits, traps, pour-ons, and sprays, to provide a comprehensive fly control program.
Key Components of an Integrated Approach:
- Sanitation: Maintaining cleanliness on the farm or ranch is essential. This includes managing old feed, silage, standing water, and high weeds, which can serve as breeding grounds for flies.
- Multiple Control Methods: Combining feed-through larvicides with chemical adulticide treatments ensures effective reduction of fly populations.
Effective fly control requires a strategic approach tailored to the specific needs of the livestock operation. ClariFly® Larvicide offers broad-spectrum control suitable for confined animals, while Altosid® IGR provides targeted control for horn flies in pastures. By integrating these products with additional control methods and maintaining good farm hygiene, producers can significantly reduce fly populations, improving the health and productivity of their livestock. Central Life Sciences' comprehensive range of products and expertise makes them a valuable partner in achieving optimal fly control.
