COWS, FLIES,BEETLES

Step one, knowing what your cattle know

A Review ofonEctoparasites and TheirCattle Production’EffectR. L. Byford, M. E. Craig, and B. L. CrosbyDepartment of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science,New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003ABSTRACT: Losses in livestock production dueto ectoparasite infestations exceed $2.26 billionannually. Over 50 species of ectoparasites infestcattle throughout the United States. The horn fly,Huematobia irrituns CL.1, is the most important andwidespread of the five to six major pest species ofpastured cattle in the southern region. Resultsfrom the examination of production traits fromcattle under ectoparasite burdens have beenvariable, ranging from no effect to significantreductions in weight gains. Because of this inconsistency,specific physiological and nutritionalresponses in cattle infested or not infested withhorn flies have been examined. Data have shownsignificant differences in nitrogen retention, bloodcortisol concentrations, vital signs, water consumption,and urine production. Implications arethat total energy balance is altered when ananimal is exposed to ectoparasite infestations,thereby resulting in decreased productivity.Key Words: Beef Cattle, Ectoparasites

Introduction

The U.S. agricultural system is unparalleled inproducing food for an increasing world population.Historically, food production has focused on raisinggrain and legumes (Hodgson, 1976). However,conversion of forage into food for humans bygrazing ruminants is an economically importantcomponent of food production in the UnitedStates. The American Forage and GrasslandCouncil (1974) estimated that there are 400 millionhectares of forage-producing land in the UnitedStates with an estimated forage value exceeding$10 billion (Sprague, 1974). Throughout the UnitedStates, grazing cattle are the basic productionunits that can best utilize this renewable resource.The mild temperate and subtropical climates ofthe southern United States combine rich forageresources and long grazing periods that are idealfor beef cattle production. The 1986 USDA AgriculturalStatistics show that 35% of the nation’s cattlelJoumal Article X1594, New Mexico Agric. Exp. Sta. Presentedat a symposium titled “Parasites Affecting Forage-Livestock Research” at the Southern Section ASAS Annu. Mtg.,Ft. Worth, TX in conjunction with the SAAS 88th Annu. Mtg.Received April 11, 1991.Accepted September 9, 1991.J. Anim. Sci. 1992. 70:597-602

Date: Time of day: Weather:

EVASIVE BEHAVIORS Tail swishing_______________ Head swinging___________ LegStamping_______________Yarding___________Wading__________Milling__________Stampeding___________Runny eyes___________________

Positive Behaviors Laying down_____ Cudchewing_____ Calves laying down in normal group____Sleeping calves_____daytime grazing______

FLY COUNTS Estimated average per animal______________ highest observed______________ lowest observed_____________ ______

Date: Time of day: Weather:

EVASIVE BEHAVIORS Tail swishing___Head swinging___LegStamping_____Yarding___Wading_____Milling_____Stampeding___Runny eyes_______

Positive Behaviors Laying down___________ Cudchewing___________ Calves laying down in normal group_________ Sleeping calves________daytime grazing_____________

FLY COUNTS Estimated average per animal______________ highest observed______________ lowest observed___ ________________

Date: Time of day: Weather:

EVASIVE BEHAVIORS Tail swishing_______________ Head swinging___________ LegStamping_______________Yarding___________Wading__________Milling__________Stampeding___________Runny eyes___________________

Positive Behaviors Laying down___________ Cudchewing___________ Calves laying down in normal group_________Sleeping calves________daytime grazing_____________

FLY COUNTS Estimated average per animal______________ highest observed______________ lowest ob served___________________

8/21 and 8/19 2014 both 200 days on feed

Holstein Steers about 100 hd Holstein Steers about 100 hd

Bedding Barn Rubber Slat over Pit

1410 actual wt, 60% yield 1402 actual live wt 61.9% yield

Beef produced 1387 Beef produced 1423

Carcass wt 846 Carcass wt 868

What we tried:At pasture:2010-2012 Feed through fly control FAIL2012 pour on permethrin fly control FAIL2013 dioxin tag rub and phosmet insecticides WIN2014 phosmet FAIL 2014 spinosad WINAt feedlot:2013 fly bait WIN2014 phosmet FAIL 2014 spinosad WIN

What failures cost us in 2012- pink eye vet bill over 1500 on 80 cow calf pairs and weaning weights under 450 pounds which may be 40 pounds short. This failure cost us at least 2000 and possible 3000.

What the phosmet failure in 2014 cost us- a cow mired due to too much swimming and we lost her : 1900 dollars AND it must have cost us 10 pounds per calf or more. 10 bad days X 1 pound not gained X 69 calves DO NOT FORGET LABOR which totalled 4 hours for two people in two locations for phosmet and spinosad or 16 hours @ 20 to 40 dollars an hour. There were also hours for two of us trying to save the cow. The total cost of this one failure: $ 4190

READY FOR 2015Walk Through Horn Fly Trap

http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/Beef%20Cattle%20Handbook/Horn-fly-traps.pdf

http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G1195

Just completed in Jan. Cost: $1800

NZI traps http://www.rinconvitova.com/fly%20trap%20nzi.htm

Performance of the Nzi and other traps for biting flies in North AmericaS. Mihoka1 c1, D.A. Carlsona2, E.S. Krafsura3 and L.D. Foila4

a1 388 Church Street, Russell, Ontario, Canada, K4R 1A8a2 US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USAa3 Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3222, USAa4 Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA

COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU: Flies, Dung beetles, cattle in google pages