Evaluation of Beef Cattle Feedlot Subsystems for Immature House Flies and Stable Flies

Abstract

ABSTRACT INSECTS, have affected people and animals in various ways (King and Lenert, 1936). A blood-feeding fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), commonly known as the stable fly, biting fly, or dog fly, can cause intense suffering to livestock. This fly is widely distributed and is an important pest of livestock in many countries (Hansens, 1951). Campbell et al. (1977) and Campbell and McNeal (1980) indicated that stable fly populations of 50/animal reduced weight gains by 0.09 kilograms/day (kg/d) and feed efficiencies by 12.9% for feeder cattle fed a growing ration. They further reported a reduction of 0.22 kd/d with a reduced feed efficiency of 10.9% when stable fly populations were 100/animal and they were fed a finishing ration. Therefore, control of stable flies in feedlots is critical to cattle performance. Flies normally breed within materials such as manure, silage, straw, lawn clippings, etc. that are high in organic matter and under various environmental conditions (King and Lenert, 1936; Hansens, 1951; Griffiths, 1962; Campbell et al., 1977; Berry and Kunz, 1978; Scholl et al., 1981; Betty et al., 1982; Meyer and Peterson, 1983) and all beef cattle feedlots use materials high in organic matter for feed and bedding. Producers use numerous methods for feedlot management. Any design or combination of subsystem designs can contribute to fly populations. However, producers have no specific format for evaluating their feedlot for fly-breeding potential. This study was initiated to determine the contribution of the feedlot subsystem facilities and of management practices to fly populations and to develop methods by which producers can evaluate specific feedlot subsystems that could lead to introducing fly control practices.