In beef production, small changes can deliver significant gains, especially when it comes to insect control and pasture management. As fly season stretches longer each year and climate patterns become more unpredictable, cattle producers must rethink how they support animal health, weight gain, and profitability. One of the most effective ways is implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include a larvicide with the 30/30 approach by Central Life Sciences.
From pasture upkeep to fly control strategies like Altosid® IGR, IPM supports performance by focusing on cattle comfort, consistent feed efficiency, and disease prevention. When producers follow a 30/30 larvicide schedule, feeding Altosid® IGR 30 days before temperatures hit 60°F and continuing 30 days after the first frost, they get ahead of horn fly populations before they do damage. Here’s how an IPM program, anchored by the 30/30 method, can enhance cattle performance throughout the grazing season and beyond.
How Do Horn Flies Factor into Cattle Comfort
Cattle performance starts with cattle comfort. When cattle are stressed, whether from things like heat or drought, they expand energy managing that stress instead of converting grass into weight. Producers plan ahead for heat stress through ensuring shade, fresh water and managing forage, but often overlook the role horn flies play in stressing their pastured cattle. A population of 200 horn flies per cow signals the economic threshold – the point where pest management should take place in order to avoid economic loss.
Horn flies are constantly taking bloodmeals and high populations cause stress that leads to increased heart rate, body temperature and impacts efficiency. Studies have proven time and time again that horn flies impact weaning weights, average daily gain, grazing time, and transfer diseases like mastitis.
The Risk of Mastitis in Beef Cattle
Though mastitis is more commonly discussed in dairy herds, its impact on beef cattle can be equally detrimental. Transmitted through fly bites, mastitis damages milk-producing tissues in the udder. Infected cows may develop blind quarters, reduced milk production, and ultimately wean lighter calves, all of which affect long-term herd profitability. Horn flies are proven vectors of Heifer Mastitis, a specific strain that infects developing udders before those females are brought into production. Often, Heifer Mastitis is overlooked and not treated, allowing more damage to the tissues all before her first calf hits the ground.
Integrated Pest Management: A Strategic Solution
To protect herd health and enhance performance, implementing an IPM program is critical. IPM is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a layered, adaptable approach that targets pests through multiple control methods, focusing on preventative measures rather than reactive. When practiced correctly, IPM delivers sustainable results without over-reliance on chemical treatments.
1. Cultural Control
Cultural controls are the foundation of an effective IPM strategy. This includes husbandry and sanitation – everything from pasture management and manure cleanup to managing unwanted vegetation. Horn flies stay with the cattle rarely leaving and larva only develop in very fresh cattle manure.
2. Biological Control
Nature provides some of its own pest control, if you know where to look. Biological control involves supporting beneficial organisms like dung beetles, predatory beetles and other natural parasitoids or introducing parasitic wasps which feed on fly larvae and pupae. These natural enemies help keep pest populations in check without harming cattle or the environment.
3. Chemical Control
While cultural and biological controls build a strong foundation, chemical controls round out the IPM approach. Traditional topical products like pour-ons, sprays, insecticidal ear tags can become ineffective as the fly season stretches on due to insecticidal resistance in the horn fly population. This is where targeted feed-through fly control products like Altosid® IGR play a central role. Altosid® IGR contains an insect growth regulator, or larvicide, that prevents horn fly pupae from maturing into adult flies. Unlike traditional products that target the already problematic adult horn flies, Altosid® IGR doesn’t rely on direct contact. Instead, cattle ingest the larvicide through their supplement, and it passes into their manure, right where horn flies lay eggs. Altosid® IGR targets the developing larva, stopping the next generation before they become problematic adults.
The 30/30 Approach: Timing is Everything
The key to success with feed-through fly control is timing. That’s where the 30/30 approach comes in. Developed by Central Life Sciences, the 30/30 method is designed to outsmart horn fly life cycles and account for seasonal variability.
Start Early
Begin feeding Altosid® IGR 30 days before average daily temperatures hit 60°F. This is the threshold at which overwintering flies begin to emerge and start breeding. By getting ahead of this emergence, producers can reduce the first wave of horn fly populations and prevent exponential growth later in the season.
Finish Strong
Continue feeding Altosid® IGR until 30 days after the first fall frost. Even after a strong frost, warm spells can trigger late-season fly activity. Continuing treatment helps target any remaining pupae and significantly reduces the number of flies that overwinter and emerge next spring.
By following the 30/30 schedule, producers essentially “close the loop” on the horn fly life cycle, reducing the pest’s ability to bounce back with each passing season.
A Smarter Strategy for Cattle Success
From pasture planning and hydration to fly control and disease prevention, every aspect of cattle management plays a role in herd performance. Integrated Pest Management, combined with the strategic timing of the 30/30 approach, gives producers a smarter, more sustainable way to fight pests and boost performance. By controlling horn flies before they cause harm and managing their breeding grounds with a complete IPM program, producers not only protect their herd’s health but also improve their bottom line.
The key is consistency: Start early, finish strong, and stick to your plan. With Altosid® IGR, cultural practices, and biological controls working together, you’ll build a more resilient herd, one that eats, grows, and thrives all season long. Learn more at AltosidIGR.com.
