From The Field
Notes from your regional managers on the importance of managing summer pests for cattle comfort.
May 21, 2025
Cattle comfort is critically important to everything from fertility to performance in the feedlot, but summer pest management can get sticky. In this month’s edition of “From the Field,” we visited with regional managers Andrew Swanson, Adam Conover and Reese Tuckwiller about common pests in their regions, why developing an insect control plan early is a must, how your relationship with your veterinarian plays a role in planning and more.
Summer nuisances
When it comes to summer nuisances to beef cattle, one culprit keeps cattlemen across the country busy year after year: flies.
Whether horn flies, face flies, stable flies, horse flies, deer flies or something more exotic, fly infestations cause cattle producers heartache. In fact, in a 2021 study University of Tennessee Extension estimated horn flies alone cost the U.S. livestock industry more than $1.75 billion in monetary damages each year.
While summer pest management may look different in different regions, Region 1 producers — covering 15 eastern states from North Carolina to Maine — share a duo of menaces well-known to them: horn flies and black flies (buffalo gnats).
“While those two are the big ones known for transmitting pinkeye and things of that nature, one pest that has showed its ugly head probably within the last five years is the Asian longhorned tick,” says Reese Tuckwiller, regional manager for that area. “These ticks carry disease and have expanded throughout the East Coast and are now getting into Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.”
The concern? The Asian longhorned tick can transmit bovine theileriosis and babesiosis infection in animals. If infected early enough in a cycle or pregnancy — within the first 60 to 90 days — females could abort their pregnancy. Avoiding initial onset is advised, but once cattle have a chance to develop resistance, producers are likely to see stabilization within the herd.
Much like Region 1, Region 5 also struggles with managing horn flies. Though horn flies primarily cause irritation and blood loss in cattle through their bites, they also contribute to the spread of diseases like stephanofilariasis (a filarial dermatitis on the ventral midline of cattle) and mastitis.
“Flies and other irritants like lice and mites cause a lot of the same irritation and that affects the skin as an organ,” says regional manager Adam Conover, who advises Iowa and Missouri producers. “The skin is just like any other organ. Sustaining damage to their hides because of summer pests potentially opens our herds up to further illness and reduced performance.”
“It sure is nice if the first time you call [your veterinarian], it’s not when you find yourself in dire straits.”
— Adam Conover
Meanwhile, in Region 6, the story of battling summer flies is much the same.
“I would say, especially in the summertime, flies are our biggest pain. Both face flies and flies on the body,” says regional manager Andrew Swanson, who covers Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Management is going to be so region-dependent, but it’s important to work with your [veterinarian] to get your plan in place early.”
Getting plans in place
As with many conundrums in life, getting ahead with planning can often yield better results and far less stress. Managing summer flies could be thought of in much the same way.
Whether producers are using a pour-on, an injectable product, misting cattle with insecticide, using cattle rubs or oilers, placing fly tags or even utilizing a feed-through product, early thought and implementation can yield dividends when it comes to slashing summer insect issues.
“There is some data that would support mixing up your [fly control] protocol. Don’t use the same fly tags year after year, and change your mix if you’re going to spray or charge rubs.”
— Reese Tuckwiller
Regardless of the delivery method, staying vigilant and swapping active ingredients regularly should be top of mind.
“There is some data that would support mixing up your [fly control] protocol. Don’t use the same fly tags year after year, and change your mix if you’re going to spray or charge rubs,” advises Tuckwiller. “It’s the same as dewormers. [If] you hit them with the same cocktail every year, there’s going to be 10% of those [parasites] that you don’t kill. They will then be able to build immunity.”
“Whether you’re needing to rotate product or add in a [new active ingredient], figuring out what is going to work best for your operation is something that I probably wouldn’t make the decision on myself. I would call in someone with more experience [in that area] than I.”
— Andrew Swanson
Early implantation is crucial, as well. By the time producers recognize flies are an issue, it may be difficult to get flies under control for the season.
“Start before they’re airborne. There needs to be a plan in place before the swarms come flying in,” stresses Conover. “We might see flies as more of a nuisance than something that can do actual harm, but we now know that isn’t always the case.”
Right-hand man (or woman)
While we outsource many issues in life to experts, fly control can often be something cattle producers try to take on alone. Why not call in the experts?
“Develop a relationship with your veterinarian or the [representative] you’re purchasing those fly control products from,” suggests Swanson. “Whether you’re needing to rotate product or add in a [new active ingredient], figuring out what is going to work best for your operation is something that I probably wouldn’t make the decision on myself. I would call in someone with more experience [in that area] than I.”
An added benefit to working with your trusted veterinarian on general herd health, vaccination schedules and the like is that you begin to build a relationship outside of the crises our veterinarians are typically presented. The idea of working together year-round is one echoed by Conover.
“It sure is nice if the first time you call [your veterinarian], it’s not when you find yourself in dire straits.”
Editor’s note: “From the Field” is a regular Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA column featuring advice, industry news and Angus updates from regional managers of the American Angus Association. For information on how to contact your regional manager, click here.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 5-B
Topics: Health , Management
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
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