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Insects Affecting Livestock Production
The Chouteau County Livestock Protective Association meeting will take place on Friday, November 10th at 3:00 p.m.at the Vets Hall in Geraldine. The social will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30. An educational presentation on insects affecting livestock production will follow dinner.
Dr. Greg Johnson, MSU Extension Veterinary Entomologist will discuss fly and lice management in beef cattle.
Horn flies are the most common summer pest on mature cattle in Montana. These flies spend 95% of their time on the animal and are very irritating because each fly takes 25 – 30 blood meals every day. The irritation associated with blood feeding causes cattle to expend energy fighting flies and reduces milk production which influences calf weights. The pros and cons of various management tactics (pour-ons, dust bags, feed additives and insecticide ear tags) will be presented. Results from field studies evaluating different insecticide ear tags will also be presented.
Cattle lice, while generally not reducing weight gains or milk production, can make cattle difficult to manage, cause them to look unthrifty, and result in damage to fences, buildings or anything the cattle use for rubbing posts. Generally fall and early winter infestations of lice are readily controlled. However, the incidence of late winter lice infestations on cattle that were treated in the fall seem to be increasing. Information on why late winter lice infestations are occurring and recommendations for controlling them will be presented.
Please RSVP to Buck Goldhahn at 622-5572 so the cooks can receive notice on how many people will be attending. For additional information on livestock management please contact the MSU Extension Chouteau County office at 622-3751 or stop in at the Chouteau County Courthouse. The Extension office is located down stairs.
Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
