Industry Buzz
Feb. 22 2012 03:12 PM

Control calf housing fly populations through milk replacer and calf starter management

Control calf housing fly populations through milk replacer and calf starter management



Jersey calf
Comprised of undisturbed bedding, manure, spilled milk and feed, calf pens and hutches provide an ideal environment for flies. Not only do flies spread disease to calves, but they also cause the calf discomfort and stress, reducing feed intake and affecting the health and growth of your calves. Land O'Lakes Purina Feed calf and heifer specialist Gary Geisler, offers the following management tips to reduce your calf housing's fly population.

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan is the most cost effective way to reduce fly populations and the stress they cause the calf.


  • This starts with cleaning up spilled feed and milk, eliminating standing water, clipping grass, and storing manure and soiled bedding away from the calf facilities.

  • Since flies lay eggs in manure, using a feed-through larvicide, like ClariFly®, is an effective strategy for reducing flies. ClariFly® breaks the lifecycle by preventing fly pupae from molting into adult flies.

  • Use scatter baits when you see adult flies around calves. If and when fly populations really get out of control, use pesticides that kill flies on contact.

  • Feed ClariFly® in both milk replacer and calf starter to be the most effective.

  • Add ClariFly® to your calf feed program 30 days before the fly season starts and 30 days after a killing frost.


Get your fly control program in place before the flies arrive this spring. Reducing the stress caused by flies will allow your calves to concentrate on eating, resting and growing, which can allow your heifers to enter the milking herd at an earlier age.

Land O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC is North America's leading feed company serving producers nationwide through local cooperatives and independent dealerships by providing an extensive line of animal nutrition, ingredients and expertise.

Note:ClariFly® is available in all Land O' Lakes Purina Feed milk replacers and calf feeds.

This expert calf-care tip is brought to you by Land O'Lakes Purina Feed.

2.22.2012