Cattle Fly Control Resource Center | Purina Animal Nutrition

Determine the Impact on Your Herd

Calculate the bite by entering the information below

STEP 1

Select your average flies per head:

Excellent Control
(20 flies)

Good Control
(60 flies)

Average Control
(200 flies)

Poor Control
(750 flies)

STEP 2

Pick your region:

STEP 3

Number of cattle:

7,000

Average Horn Fly Bites Per Animal Per Day

Strive for 200 flies per cow or fewer. Any number above that is too high and could be hurting your bottom line.

3.3 Gallons Total Blood Loss Per Animal Per Season

499 Gallons Average Blood Loss For Herd Per Season

1,050,000 Average Blood Meals On Herd Per Day

2.77 Gallons Average Blood Loss Per Day

Best Practices for Monitoring Your Fly Population

For small fly populations, count the number of flies on one side of the animal. For larger fly populations, count the number of flies in a representative space and then multiply the number of spaces occupied by flies on that animal. It is easiest to check horn flies in the early morning when they are usually on the upper side of the animal. If horn flies have exceeded the economic threshold of 200 flies per animal, consider controlling horn flies by giving them a Purina Wind and Rain Fly Control Mineral.

Horn Fly Impact on Cattle

It’s no secret the horn fly is one of the biggest nuisances to cattle. During peaks, as many as 4,000 horn flies can call a cow’s hide home. At 30 blood meals each, that adds up to 120,000 bites per cow per day. Not only are these flies irritating your cows, but with production losses for the U.S. cattle industry estimated up to $1 billion annually, they’re also biting away at your profits.

High horn fly populations can cause blood loss, increased cattle stress and annoyance. This can cause cattle to use their energy to combat flies, change their grazing patterns and cause cattle grouping. The result of poor fly control may be reduced weight gains, decreased milk production and reduced calf weaning weights.