Control of the Face Fly and Horn Fly on Beef Cattle, 1982

Abstract

Abstract Several insecticides and application methods were evaluated Jun through Sep on 5 separate herds of beef cattle, located in Montgomery Co, Blacksburg, VA. Herd no 1 consisted of ca 20 mixed breed heifers and cows with calves, treated with a burlap backrubber and a mineral feeder type burlap facerubber, charged with 1 pt Ravap EC and 3.5 gal diesel fuel. Herd no 2 consisted of ca 25 mixed breed heifers and cows with calves, treated with a burlap backrubber and a mineral feeder equipped with reservoir type facerubber cords, charged with 1 pt Ravap EC and 3.5 gal diesel fuel. Herd no 3 consisted of 14 Angus heifers treated with 2 Ectrin 8% ear tags per animal. Herd no 4 consisted of ca 55 mixed breed cows with calves, treated with a mineral feeder type ‘Dustacator’ and later changed (wk 10) to standard dust bags. Both applicators were charged with Ectiban 0.25% dust. Herd no 5 consisted of ca 30 mixed breed cows and heifers, treated with a burlap backrubber and a mineral feeder type facerubber, charged with 1 pt Ectiban 5.7%EC and 5 gal diesel fuel. Comparative efficacy was based on an untreated control herd, consisting of ca 20 mixed breed cows with calves. All herds were within ca 2 miles of each other. Weekly fly counts were made on 10 animals per herd and are expressed as the mean number of face and horn flies per treatment. The same person performed the weekly fly counts to eliminate inaccuracy due to subjectivity.