Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock

1. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock

2. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Unit 6 Objectives: • Introduce pest management options for livestock • Discuss various strategies • Identify various pests • Understand treatment and control options

3. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Successful pest management is a key part to effective and profitable livestock production • Are losses due to pests noticeable? • Pests can also transmit significant diseases • Effective management programs should include the following control tactics: • Cultural • Mechanical • Biological • Chemical

4. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Properly used treatments will have no adverse effect on the animal, or production • Avermectin is the most common active ingredient in medications • Controls the following pests: • Grubs, lice, ticks, mites • Can be used on non-lactating dairy cattle and beef cattle, and swine • Many products contain this active ingredient • What are they?

5. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Epps Trap • Dark silhouette traps attract biting flies • Bugs collecting in a soapy solution • Effective for control of: • Horse flies, deer flies, and stable flies • Doesn’t control: • Face flies, house flies, horn flies • Recommend 1 per 40 ac. • Cost $150-200 • Will need fenced cage for protection

6. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Using Livestock Insecticides • User is always responsible for results • Precautions: • Read the label • Avoid breathing sprays or dusts • Wash thoroughly from your skin • No eating, drinking, or smoking while handling the pesticide • Use in well ventilated areas • Do not exceed treatment recommendations • May result in reactions or residues

7. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Observe withholds • Don’t treat stressed animals • Avoid contamination • Feed • Water • Mangers • Milk • Milking equipment • Adhere to restrictions for manure applications on crops • Keeps records of use and medications

8. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Store and dispose of properly • Beware of poison risks • Blurred vision • Abdominal cramps • Chest tightness • Contact a physician • Preventing Livestock Poisoning • Livestock can be killed if they consume dusts, powders, or granules • Observe treatment methods and applicators closely

9. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Fly Control in Livestock Buildings & Feedlots • Common pests • House fly, stable flies, blow flies • Develop in moist, organic wastes • Manure • Spilled feeds • Garbage • Decaying material • Breeding areas are located in dark, damp areas • Most flies are not blood suckers and are mainly nuisances

10. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Stable flies do bite and suck blood • Treatments • Most control of these pests should not center on the animal itself • Dusts • Provide little control in and around buildings • Only provide some relief on an animal • Sprays • Can be directed on the animal’s body • Only provides control on the body • No significant control of overall fly population

11. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Sanitation provides better control • Scrape manure regularly • Remove bedding • Remove any other built up manure/feed • Spread manure where it can quickly dry • Covering manure can help • Apply insecticide to the manure pile • Sawdust bedding also keeps flies down effectively • Why?

12. Unit 6: Insect Pest Management for Livestock • Remove all other wasted feeds/grains • Hay piles outside can also be a prime breeding ground • Keep the ground dry around water tanks • Insecticide treatments may still be necessary in addition to proper sanitation • Premise treatments may be warranted • Separate recommendations for milking rooms