The mosquito bites from yet another post-tornadic storm fence check are a clear reminder it’s time to fill the cattle backrubs.

Parasites, external or internal, are a hindrance to cattle welfare and greatly impact productivity. Last month we focused on horn flies. The ones we don’t see as easily, the internal kind, are just as challenging, if not more so.

The approach to ward off flies is multipronged and challenging. However, doing nothing can severely hinder productivity, profits and herd welfare. I’ve asked Dr. Nancy Hinkle, extension veterinary entomologist at the University of Georgia, to give her tips on horn fly control for the Southeast.