Flies are more than just a nuisance in feedlot operations; they pose significant economic and welfare challenges. The two main fly pests of confined livestock are House Flies (Musca domestica) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans). Understanding these pests and implementing effective control strategies is crucial for maintaining a healthy and profitable feedlot operation.
House Flies
House flies are a well-known pest of both farm and home. House flies are the most common species found on feedlots. House flies lay eggs in organic material including manure and decomposing material. When they are not laying eggs, they are typically found around windows, doors and ceilings. These resting places are generally near favourite daytime feeding and breeding areas that are sheltered from wind. At night, house flies are normally inactive. These flies pose a serious health hazard to people and animals by spreading numerous diseases in and around animal facilities and nearby residential areas.
Stable Flies
Stable flies are a similar size to a house fly, but the adult has piercing mouthparts that protrude from under its head for blood feeding. They lay eggs in wet straw and manure, spilled feeds, silage, grass clippings and various other types of decaying vegetation. Cattle are most irritated by stable flies during summer. Both male and female flies feed on blood several times a day. Cows' stomping of feet is a good indication that stable flies are present because they normally attack legs and bellies.
Stable flies can cause reduced weight gain and feed efficacy in cattle. The reduction in weight gain and milk yield is primarily due to animals exhibiting fly avoidance behaviours (such as cattle bunching) that reduce their time feeding or resting.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is recommended for implementing a successful fly management program in and around feedlots. The success of an IPM involves combining multiple chemical and non-chemical strategies. The objectives of an effective control program are to limit the emerging fly population (larval stages), whilst at the same time reducing the existing adult fly population. The following principles are important to follow:
Monitoring
Ongoing monitoring of the fly population will enable timely implementation of initial principles prior to the start of the fly season. Beginning a structured fly management plan early in the fly season has shown to markedly improve fly control.
Several monitoring tools have been developed for adult and larval populations to enable feedlot managers to monitor for impending emergence of adult flies and provide a basis for timing and frequency of spray applications. These tools include spot cards, sticky ribbons, scudder grid, pupal traps and visual inspection of cattle and manure piles.
Sanitation
Effective, regular sanitation removes viable fly breeding sites, thereby reducing larval numbers (the emerging fly population). Generally, viable fly breeding sites will be warm, moist, organic materials including decaying vegetable or animal materials (e.g. spoilt feed or manure). Stable fly in particular like decaying fibrous materials as a breeding site.
Depending on the type of facility, dry manure management is highly effective in reducing fly populations. Where applicable, frequent removal of manure prevents fly buildup by breaking the breeding lifecycle. It is important to scatter the manure lightly outdoors to kill eggs and larvae by drying. Spilled feed should not be allowed to accumulate. Regulate water flow to watering sources and prevent/repair any leaks.
Chemical Control
Use of targeted, specific chemical control is an important component of an effective control plan, targeting both the emerging population (using a larvicide) and the existing adult fly population (using an adulticide). Rotation between pesticide molecules belonging to different insecticide classes is important to ensure the longevity of these molecules.
Focusing on the adult fly population alone only addresses the tip of the iceberg1, and will not enable you to control fly worry effectively over an extended period of time. The Elanco 'No Fly Zone' program is an integrated program that utilises trusted solutions from Elanco in combination with sanitary and management practices to control adult flies and larvae throughout the season.
QuickBaytTM
QuickBayt contains the active ingredients imidacloprid and (Z)-9-Tricosene. This granular fly bait lures flies away from nuisance areas and kills them fast. QuickBayt can be scattered, mixed with water and painted onto fly resting surfaces, placed in hessian bags and moistened, or used in bait stations. It's a non-scheduled poison with added Bitrex (a foul-tasting animal deterrent), so it's safer around families and pets.
- Easy to apply fly bait to knockdown flies quickly
- Non-spray and non-airborne means only flies are treated
- Fewer flies means less feed spoilage and stock irritation
- Contains fly pheromone to lure flies away from problem areas
- Non-scheduled poison with added Bitrex as a deterrent to protect pets
QuickBaytTM Spray
QuickBayt Spray contains the same active ingredient as QuickBayt, but it is a water dispersible granule which can be mixed with water and sprayed onto surfaces where it attracts and kills flies fast. It can be applied to a range of different surfaces both indoors and outdoors (in areas out of reach of animals and children) and on surfaces where traditional scatter baits cannot be used. It is ideal for use around livestock production areas.
- Flies die within minutes
- DAFF approved (for non-product areas) in export meat works
- Residual activity for up to 6 weeks
- Water dispersible for easy spraying in out of reach areas
- Virtually invisible for indoor and outdoor application
- Spot spray or paint, saving application time and volume usage
AgitaTM 100 Plus
Agita 100 Plus contains Thiamethoxam and (Z)-9-Tricosene. It is registered for the control of house flies in animal housing, including dairies, cattle feedlots, abattoirs, piggeries, poultry facilities, horse stables and kennels. It is suitable for use in a range of commercial, industrial and domestic areas as per the directions for use.
- Kills adult flies within minutes2
- Up to six weeks residual activity*
- Versatile application options as a paint or spray
- Includes sugar and a sex pheromone to attract flies
- Nil withholding periods
*If applies correctly during ideal conditions, provided the product is not consumed beforehand3
SolfacTM Duo
Solfac Duo contains two active ingredients, Betacyfluthrin and Imidacloprid, resulting in a fast-acting product with good residual control. Mixed with water, it's an odour-free spray solution that can be used for the control of adult flies at resting sites. Solfac Duo is effective against a range of other insect pests (see label), making it a versatile product option in different situations.
- Effective against a wide range of pests
- DAFF approved (for non-product areas) in export meat works
- Rapid knockdown of pests
- Long residual action
- Effective even on the most difficult surfaces
- Odour-free
- 500mL pack is ideal for larger operations, including intensive animal housing
ElectorTM PSP
Elector PSP contains spinosad, a molecule with a unique mode of action, making it the ideal rotation partner for fly control4. Spinosad acts on both adult and larval stages of house flies and is effective through direct contact and ingestion of product4. Applied as a spray to the surfaces of agricultural animal premises, Elector PSP provides robust and lasting control of house flies and stable flies.
- Contains spinosad, which controls both adult and larval stages
- Registered for use in poultry, beef, dairy and horse premises
- Unique mode of action, showing no cross-resistance with organophosphates, carbamates or pyrethroids5
General Safety Guidelines for Fly Control Products*
As with the use of any chemical, personnel safety during application, food chain safety (residues in edible tissue) as well as animal safety is important.
*Note that these are general principles only. For full safety guidelines of individual products, please refer to the specific product labels. Always read and follow label directions.
Principles to adhere to within livestock production areas:
- Do not apply insecticide spray directly to animals, unless this is specified in the label (such as pour-on products).
- Do not apply where livestock can be exposed to direct spray, and allow treated areas to dry before restocking.
- Do not contaminate feed or water used for drinking or cooling.
- Do not apply to areas that can be accessed or licked by animals.
- Do not spray into the atmosphere as a fogger or to create an aerosol.
- If spraying inside pens, ensure animals are first removed. Let surfaces dry prior to restocking.
- Livestock can be present in pens if spraying outside pen area, but prevent direct spray or aerosol exposure to animals.
1. Reece, D. Create a “low-fly” zone. Pig & Poultry Marketing, 2014; Spring:18-19. 2. Study IDL 1049 2012 (v.10) 3.Study 1000.Agita.Sievert, Kai 2014 (v1.0). 4. Bacci, L. et al. (2016). A review of spinosyns, a derivative of biological acting substances as a class of insecticides with a broad range of action against many insect pests. J. Entomol. Acarol. Res. 48:565. 5. Spinosad Technical Bulletin. Dow AgroSciences (2001).
Always read and follow the label directions.
QuickBaytTM, AgitaTM, SolfacTM, ElectorTM, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-AU-25-0239.
