With summertime in full swing , fighting insectsat the farm can feel like a full - clip caper . permit ’s take a faithful look at three uncouth species of tent-fly that impact our cattle and other farm animal .
Horn Flies
Thehorn flyis a surprisingly small worm ( the adult is only 3 to 5 mm ) , so it ’s not the size of it but rather the bit of these fly that causes problems . Clustering in large groups that can count in the hundred , these flies will sit down on the backs , withers and sides of oxen and pierce the hide to feed on blood line .
These fly are tenacious feeders , too , look at upwards of 20 to 30 bites per fly a solar day .
Despite the fly ’s small size , these bites are painful , so fauna will move and fuss to avoid being feed upon . It is usually all for naught , though , as these flies not only feed but then also have the audacity to rest on the animal . This means a continual fly mien that is understandably highly irritating .
Stable Flies
Just a bit smaller than the mansion fly , thestable flyis a ubiquitous pest in the summer . congregation along an animate being ’s back , legs , side and belly , these fly sheet ( in contrast to the horn tent flap ) only take on average one blood meal a day . Bbut the bite is unspeakable and causes distress .
Face Flies
You cognise the image : a moo-cow ( or horse orgoat ) in the summer Lord’s Day with dozens of flies around its middle and nozzle . This is , you guessed it , theface tent flap . Unlike the other two species remark above , these dirt ball do not bite but instead fertilize on somatic secretion , most usually snag , spit and mucus .
They are also more likely to be found on animals on lea , not in the barn . Although expression tent flap do n’t bite , they do transmit a plebeian cattle disease : pink eye .
What to Do?
The three fly sheet species above constitute mutation on a paper : thorn that negatively bear upon the health and welfare of our livestock . animate being suffering from fly infestation will invariably move to fend off the insects . This means less clip grazing or resting .
Horses will stomp repeatedly to remove fly from their leg . This repetitive concussive force can make lameness .
oxen forever on the move will not pull in weight and , in some cases , can lose condition . Farmers may also see a negative impact on calf growth , not because the flies are feeding on the calves , but rather the cow . As the moo-cow unendingly moves to ward off the flies , the sura is unable to hold .
yield these way out , what ’s a hobby farmer to do in the summer ? It ’s significant to bring in there is no one - closure root to controling flies on cattle and other livestock . Instead , integrated blighter direction ( IPM)is typically the safe line of action . This means cleaning up the surroundings ( such as remove manure on a regular basis and not overcrowd the fauna ) in conjunction with chemical control . The latter will search different depending on an individual farm ’s set up , but could include dust bags , hang-up and ear tags for Bos taurus , and human face masks , vanish sprays and fans for sawhorse .
Because there are dissimilar epizoon out there ( we have n’t even mouth about ticks or grubs , just to name a few more ) , there should be a multi - superimposed design to avail master their memory access to your animals .
