Economic losses in beef herds occur when horn fly numbers exceed 150 flies per animal. Therefore, it is necessary to control horn flies in cattle to maximize economic returns and enhance animal welfare, according to Drovers CattleNetwork.
Two fly control options were recently tested: XP-820 fly tags manufactured by Y-Tex Corporation and Aim-L Vetcaps marketed by Agrilabs.
The XP-820 fly tag is a slow release product containing abamectin, which had not been previously used in the United States. XP-820 is labeled to control horn flies, including strains resistant to synthetic pyrethroids, and several tick species.
The Aim-L Vetcaps are soft-gel capsules that contain 10 milliliter of lambda-cyhalothrin with piperonyl butoxide. The capsules provide horn fly and lice control for cattle over 600 pounds. The Vetcaps are applied with a Vetgun, a remote delivery system that is designed to save time and reduce handling stress by allowing the product to be applied to cattle in the pasture.
Results found both products reduced horn fly numbers, although the XP-820 fly tag was the most beneficial and economical of the two products. XP-820 reduced fly numbers to 10 to 20 per animal. While Vetcaps and Vetgun required less time for application and less animal stress, application effectiveness was reduced after two weeks. To maintain its effectiveness, multiple applications were required during fly season.