Dealing with Flies and PinkEye

[WyndSyrin]

Hello all

Currently dealing with a very nasty fly infestation that has resulted in PinkEye on several of our cows, calves, and bulls. We have part of the herd on one large field where the fly situation is not that bad and the rest of them are by the house and they are covered. We douse them every 2-3 days with fly spray and the back rubber is filled every other day.

What I would be interested in knowing is there a combination of things that we can do starting spring of 2018 to help keep the fly population to a minimum? I have considered a combination of fly blocks and a vaccination that contains a pinkeye vacc.

 

[Bossroo]

Consider adding fly predator wasps to the chemical arsenal. It will take a while to work, but once their population increases through additional releases as well as their natural reproduction, you will notice a definate reduction in the fly numbers.

 

[greybeard]

IGR blocks and tubs. Start using them early, before fly season. Use them along with spray, ear tags, and rubs. Make sure the rubs have plenty of good face flaps.

We are currently under siege by mosquitoes, but it will hopefully be short lived as the water from recent flooding dries up.

 

[farmerjan]

We use rubs at the mineral/salt feeders and we also feed DE in the mineral and any feed that we use. It mostly helps with internal parasites, but have seen a big reduction of flies also. It passes through the cattle manure and when the flies lay their eggs in the manure, the eggs hatch but the larvae don't develop into flies. There are some that have no belief in the DE but after several times of doing fecals on the cows and finding next to no parasites, we have basically also stopped worming them except for the few odd ones here and there. IGR like the old rabon blocks helps, there are other brands now, but we like the DE as it does the same basic thing. Also, use it in the chicken feed and have NO problems with them getting internal worms etc. It can be used in the powder type back rubs for cattle, and dusting boxes for poultry.