Fly Tag, Tick & Lice Control Strategies for Cattle & Horse Owners

Buffalo Fly live permanently on host cattle and adult flies take a blood meal 10 to 40 times per day. Females lay their eggs in a fresh dung pat before returning to their host and will only survive a day or two away from cattle.

Adult flies can live for two to three weeks and continue to lay eggs until they die {up to 70 eggs per dung pat visit and up to 360 eggs over their lifetime}. In hot humid conditions their life cycle can be as short as 14 days, and when overwintering, as long as 40 days.

Insecticide Cattle Ear Tags are a moulded PVC Tag impregnated with a slow release contact insecticide. The insecticide commences release from the tag when applied to the animal and small volumes are released daily over the three to four month efficacy claim period.

The active ingredient is then transferred over the animal via their hair follicles and the natural grooming and contact habits within the herd. Due to the small doses released daily, active ingredients are not absorbed into meat or milk. Recent studies have found; a hair clipping from the hind leg three days after tagging contained a dose of insecticide toxic to kill flies.

• Tag every animal in the mob and always apply the recommended number of tags per animal.
• Always remove tags after the efficacy claim period and always apply tags to the back of the animal’s ears.
• Where possible, synchronise tagging with your neighbours using the same tag and apply at the same time.
• Follow the Y-Tex 3 way Insecticide Cattle Ear Tag rotation program
• Store and destroy spent tags as per label directions.

The Y-Tex range of Insecticide Cattle Ear Tags offer the only 3 way insecticide chemistry rotation program available today. Buffalo Fly resistance to a particular chemical group is caused by the fly being exposed to a sub lethal dose of insecticide and usually occurs; if the cattle have been under dosed, if the same chemical class of insecticide has been used repeatedly, or if the tags have not been removed after their efficacy claim period.
The short life cycle of the Buffalo Fly allows resistance to build quickly and transfers to succeeding generations. So Y-Tex recommend the following tag rotation program ->

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Queensland studies indicate that a 17kg liveweight gain on calves is achievable at weaning from treated dams. Two weight gain trials on breeder cows and heifers, treated with Insecticide Cattle Ear Tags, produced an increase in live weight gain of 33kg versus untreated cattle over the five month trial period.

(* SPRADBERY TOZER AUST VET J73:6-10. 2.WEIGHT GAIN ON CALVES AT WEANING WITH DAMS TREATED AU-97-5)

Recent cattle industry surveys have producers nominating Buffalo Fly as their major parasite issue. A recent MLA report indicated infestations are costing the Australian cattle industry up to $98 million per annum.

Buffalo Fly numbers of 30 in dairy herds and 200 in beef cattle can cause production losses due to reduced weight gain, lowered milk production and permanent hide damage.

Buffalo Fly can also transmit Stephanofilaria spp., a small parasitic worm that causes sores around the eyes, neck and shoulders of cattle thus reducing hide value.

More than 500ml a day loss in milk production in dairy cattle can occur with moderate fly infestations.
A Qld trial determined that 30% of cattle not treated for Buffalo Fly suffered from pink eye during one season compared to no development in treated cattle.

Cattle fight flies instead of grazing and suppressed activity by bulls can occur under heavy fly pressure.
Animal welfare is an important consideration as cattle suffer constant irritation, painful bites causing distress, graze less and are continuously rubbing to relieve irritation.