CAYLEY, Alta. — A fly control product incorporated in bovine mineral, in use in the United States for about 17 years, is now available in Canada.
Altosid insect growth regulator is marketed by Cargill and designed to treat horn flies in manure.
“It was registered in May of 2018 so we were already into fly season by then, so this is our first spring where we’re able to have producers that are going to grass or stocker cattle, have this product available when they turn them out,” said Cargill animal nutrition beef regional sales leader Shannon Borden.
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“Altocid is the only insect growth regulator that’s been approved and registered in Canada.”
Borden provided information about horn flies and the control product March 20 at the annual general meeting of the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association.
Horn flies in sufficient numbers can limit cattle productivity. They are strong biters and can annoy cattle to the point where weight gain is reduced, body condition scores are lowered and pregnancy rates decline.
The flies also spread bacteria, potentially causing pinkeye, foot rot and mastitis, said Borden.
Adult horn flies live two to four weeks on cattle, taking up to 40 blood meals per day. Females lay eggs in fresh manure, larvae hatch in one or two days and molt into pupae within three to five days.
Altosid prevents pupae from developing into mature flies without affecting the animal or harming dung beetles, birds and other species that might contact the manure, she said.
“The cow is simply a pass-through animal. We are treating the manure and she just acts as the body that we pass it through so that it can get to the manure and treat those flies.”
To date no fly resistance to the product has been reported, she added.
Cargill has added Altosid to Emerald, a palatable bovine mineral, calling it Right Now Emerald with Altosid. Altosid IGR in loose mineral is exclusive to Cargill in Canada.
The company recommendation is to begin feeding the product 30 days before overwintering flies emerge, which is approximately when average daily temperatures reach 18 C. It also recommends providing the product for 30 days after the first frost to ensure best fly control.
Borden said the biochemical pesticide costs about $6 per cow over a four-month period.
