Fly Control

Don’t let horn flies eat your profits

dboxler1@unl.edu — Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Since its introduction into the U.S. in the late 1800s, the horn fly has become a persistent challenge for livestock producers in pasture-based systems. For beef and dairy operations, horn flies are more than a nuisance; they contribute to measurable losses in weight gain, milk production and overall animal performance.

Fly control management for beef cattle

megan.vanemon@montana.edu — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fly control in beef cattle continues to be an in-demand topic each year as the potential resistance to conventional fly tags and the introduction of garlic as a feed ingredient to mitigate flies becomes more prevalent. Fly control management is important to minimize the spread of disease and to minimize the negative impacts on livestock production.

South Central: Horn fly control options

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There is no perfect strategy for controlling horn flies, and the most successful strategies generally require more than one approach.

Who wants healthy livestock?

ckinder@uidaho.edu — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In order to have healthy animals, producers must understand the normal health attributes of livestock, routinely monitor their animals and make management changes when necessary.

Controlling flies on cattle

cwillmore@uidaho.edu — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The best way to treat flies is to first understand what fly you are treating for. Remember: Face flies are found on the face, stable flies are found on front legs, and horn flies are found on the back and sides.

Don’t stress: Here’s how to handle the heat

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Summertime brings in the warmer weather and, with it, a different set of stressors for cattle. A number of factors can lead to stress in cattle, including fluctuations in temperature or adverse weather conditions.

Stable flies on pastured cattle

dboxler1@unl.edu — Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Pastured animals that exhibit defensive behaviors such as tail flicking, skin twitching, leg stamping, lying with their legs tucked underneath, standing in water and bunching in corners of pastures are likely being attacked by the stable fly.

South Central: Topical horn fly control considerations

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Last month’s Regional Roundup discussed feed additive options to aid in horn fly control and some differences between horn, stable and house flies. This month’s roundup will focus on topical insecticide options and considerations to help control horn flies.

Controls for flies on pastured cattle

dboxler1@unl.edu — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Face flies are pests of pastured livestock animals such as beef cattle and horses. The face fly is a robust fly that resembles the house fly in appearance.

Fly control management strategies for your herd

cashworth@zinpro.com — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Many producers think that when a cow shakes flies off or swats them away with her tail, the issue is over. It isn’t. However, by controlling flies, you can improve cow comfort, lower disease transmission and minimize production losses.

Horn flies on pastured cattle

dboxler1@unl.edu — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The horn fly is a major pest of pasture and rangeland cattle throughout the U.S. Adult horn flies are blood-feeding flies taking, on average, 30 blood meals per day.

West: Fly control with mineral, bags and tags

msmall@uidaho.edu — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We’re in the heat of summer, a welcome time for many reasons – warm sunny days for putting up hay crops, ripening fields for harvest season, cattle contently foraging, and perhaps even some trips to the river or lake for fun.

South-Central: Feed-through insecticides for horn flies

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 03 May 2023 17:05:55 -0400

Horn flies, stable flies, house flies and face flies can all be a challenge for cattle and cattle producers.

Options for feed-through fly control with costs and benefits

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:12:02 -0400

Every year about this time, producer attention turns to fly control. Especially in the southern U.S., by the time early spring rolls around, the flies are coming back to the cows with a vengeance, assuming they ever left at all.

South Central: Strategies for horn and stable flies

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:01 -0400

It is that time of year when most need to start thinking about horn and stable fly control strategies. There are no magic bullets for controlling either of these flies, but there are strategies that can be used to reduce their impact.

Fly control options, explained

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:01 -0400

Fly season is almost upon us. These little pests cause significant loss of production (aka less weight gain) and spread disease readily. If you do not control fly pressure on your livestock, you’re leaving real money on the table.

Fight summer flies with feed-throughs

marc.campbell@huvepharma.us — Mon, 24 May 2021 14:00:01 -0400

If your cattle could talk – or sing – “Shoo fly, don’t bother me” would likely be a common mantra heard throughout the summer season as they annoyingly swat their tails across their backs.

Getting the most out of fly tags

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:00:01 -0400

Fly management is no small component of herd health. Limiting them reduces disease, increases animal comfort and allows greater efficiency.

Controlling profit-robbing flies

arobinson@neogen.com — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:00:01 -0400

Flies are much more than a nuisance. Their economic impact can reach deep into a cattleman’s pockets.

The stagnant future of fly control

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:00:01 -0400

We have billion-dollar problems in the beef industry. Here are a few of the commonly reported billion-dollar hits we take annually: fescue toxicosis, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and, surprisingly, flies.

Can we control flies naturally?

Wed, 29 May 2019 21:43:00 -0400

Sonja Swiger is the livestock veterinary extension entomologist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services. When asked, “What are the natural remedies for fly control?” Swiger has a simple answer: there aren’t any.

Are you getting the most out of your feed-through fly control?

jason.smith@ag.tamu.edu — Fri, 24 May 2019 14:00:01 -0400

Feed-through fly control is undoubtedly one of the most popular seasonal feed additives used in pasture-based beef production systems.

Southeast: Tips on horn fly control

jduggin@uga.edu — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 14:00:01 -0400

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.

Effective fly control strategies for 2019

bravomelissa@yahoo.com — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:00:01 -0400

What’s worse? The bloodsucking swarm that never seems to end until the sun goes down? Or a few million “shew flies” working together harassing and harrying their victims into exhaustion?

South Central: Preparing your horn fly control

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 15:00:01 -0500

Treatment of horn flies is important from both an economic and animal welfare standpoint. On average, horn flies have been shown to reduce average daily gain (ADG) in stocker cattle and replacement heifers by 13.6 percent or about 0.2 pound per day.

Cattle producers should pay attention to fly control

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:31:34 -0400

External parasites can be costly for cattle producers and getting a handle on problems early can lead to more prosperous and better performing cows.