Kansas State University Research and Extension veterinary entomologist Cassandra Olds says controlling flies in livestock herds is a problem that "plagues most producers most years."

While most people associate flies as one breed, there are actually four types that impact livestock herds: houseflies, horn flies, stable flies and face flies.

"Lucky for us, each fly has a preference for where it likes to be on the animal, or not on the animal," Olds says, noting that horn flies prefer the animal's back or belly; stable flies are common on the front legs; houseflies hang out around the feed bunk; and face flies are found on the animal's face.

"Each fly can lay 100 eggs every couple days, so over her lifetime, she may lay 500 eggs," Olds says. "So getting rid of adults is important, but getting rid of the places where they breed is more important. By knowing which fly pest you have, you can look for areas where these flies may be breeding."

View the full video, including Olds' recommendations for control here:

Source: Kansas State University Research and Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.