Dairy Quality University

Plan your attack on flies

Start your pest control now…
not after flies appear

Step one in a profitable plan to attack flies begins as most health advice: Work with a veterinarian, extension specialist or animal-health representative to identify the high-priority targets on your operation. Taking time now to plan ahead helps you approach fly control with the tools at your disposal, not just chemicals. Circle the most appropriate response on this checklist to prioritize your improvements.

Fly control attack plan

High priority

Low priority
Fly Breeding Sites

Areas of piled manure that breed flies?
Much Some Little None

Decaying wet organic matter?
Much Some Little None

“Stomp lots” or poor grazing patterns that don’t help spread fresh manure across pasture?

Much

 Some Little None

Wet, spoiled feed around feeders or in corners?
Much Some Little None

Spoiled feed around silage bunkers/seepage?
Much Some Little None

Leaking water tanks?
Much Some Little None

Rotting hay bales?
Much Some Little None
Fly resting areas

Cool, shaded shed walls?
Many Some Little None

Supports and other vertical interior surfaces?
Many Some Little None

Weed patches that need to be killed/mowed?
Many Some Little None
Strategic control

Tags removed at the end of each season?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Rotate your tag insecticide class each season?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Save tags for late summer use?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Wait to treat horn flies until you count 200 per calf?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Combine tags with organophosphate oilers/bags?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Locate oilers/bags within cattle traffic patterns?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Use a different tag than neighbors each season?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Separate and treat growing/lactating animals first?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Move cattle from low spots at horse and deer fly peak?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Write down a fly control plan? Schedule spraying?
Never Now & then Usually Always

Reprinted with permission from Practical Health/Farmland, February 1998.