By Travis Meteer
Warm summer temperatures create the perfect environment for challenges from insects and internal and external parasites to transpire. Pets spending time outside can also cause trouble in the cattle herd. With the growing risk of New World Screwworm, proper pest and parasite control is even more important. Knowledge and prevention are the best tools to keep your herd free of problems.
Pests to Watch For:
Asian longhorned tick:
The Asian longhorned tick is an invasive species whose bites can make cattle sick. Recently identified in Illinois, this is a timely and major threat. Infestation can cause severe blood loss and stress. Read more here.
Horn Flies:
Horn flies are biting flies that take blood meals and cause irritation. This blood loss can reduce weight gain and milk production.
Face Flies:
Face flies don’t bite; instead, they feed on moisture around the eyes, nose, and manure. They can transmit pink eye and reduce the time cattle spend grazing.
Stable Flies:
Stable flies are biting flies, that get their name for biting the legs of livestock. This can cause increased stomping and stress among cattle.
New World Screwworm (NWS):
NWS was recently detected in Texas for the first time in decades. They are not worms, but instead flies whose larvae infest wounds and feed on living tissue. This severely impacts animal welfare and hurts performance. Although this is NOT currently an Illinois risk producers need to be aware.
How to Manage Pests:
- Rotate insecticide classes to prevent insecticide resistance.
- Treat wounds promptly and with insecticide to prevent infection and infestation.
- Use integrated control:
- Fly tags can provide coverage for at least 30-60 days and ensure individual animal protection.
- Fly sprays immediately decrease the fly load and are great for short-term control.
- Insecticide pour-ons deliver active ingredients directly to the animal’s skin.
- Back rubbers, oilers, and dust bags are low labor and allow for re-application of fly control in forced scenarios.
- Biological control uses fly parasites to attack fly pupae and prevent hatching of flies.
- Feed additives are used to break the life cycle of flies and are a low-labor, low-stress form of fly control.
Source : illinois.edu