Maggie Gilles provides a reminder all animal health pros need. Fly control begins with regular sanitation to remove manure and organic material from breeding areas. To increase effectiveness, it is important to implement one or more of the fly reduction approaches targeted to different life stages of the pesky flies.
Stable flies and horn flies are the primary targets for control in beef cattle. Stable flies are seen on the legs and bellies, are oriented pointing up and do not reside on the animal. Horn flies are found mainly on the back, are oriented pointing down and reside on the animal in clusters. Both flies take blood meals from cattle <Link>.
Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, May 22, 2025. Link.
Flies irritate cattle, disrupt normal behaviors and are a vector for disease transmission.” – Maggie Gilles
INSIGHTS: Timing is everything when seeking to reduce fly populations. Routine fly control reminders can serve to keep producers ahead of population blooms and offers some additional retail revenue potential. “In all breeds of cattle about 80 percent of the flies are on 20 percent of the animals,” says Doug Colwell, PhD <Link>.
Also see: Search results for: fly control, AHD Archives. Link.