A Defense Against Livestock Pests
By Caitlin Richards
For livestock producers, dealing with pests is inevitable. Flies, lice and ticks are only a few on the long list of pests that plague livestock. The treatments for each pest are usually different as well, which only makes pest control even more complex.
The experts at Bayer Animal Health have developed a Defense Point System that aims to logically simplify pest control with 4 points. There is no magic in the name, says Jim Sears, DVM, a senior technical services veterinarian with Bayer Animal Health. It is primarily a logical way for producers to think through pest control.
“With so many parasites and so many choices for treatment, it is confusing sometimes,” Sears says. “So, the Defense Point System is essentially a way to try to organize and put some kind of logic behind it to make decisions.”
The Defense Point System consists of 4 key treatment areas (or defense points) on an operation that producers should address when putting together their strategy for pest control management. They are as follows: defense point 1, on-animal; defense point 2, facility; defense point 3, environment; and defense point 4 feed-through.
Defense Point 1: On-animal
Since many pests spend the majority of their life cycle on the livestock, they are ground zero for pest damage, but also control. Treatment on-animal is often crucial to preventing serious loss of productivity.
Many pests are effectively treated at this defense point with products such as pour-on or spray insecticides, insecticidal ear tags, dust bags or back rubbers with insecticides.
Defense Point 2: Facility
Facility, Sears explains, is where the livestock are housed, sleep and take shelter. This is an important treatment area because the facility is a prime location for pests to pass from one animal to another, so treating there can limit or stop the spread of pests among livestock.
Treatment at this defense point includes keeping barns, stalls, corrals, workings pens and ranch structures clean and free of vegetation. These areas could provide resting cover for flying pests. A premise spray can also be used on the walls of facilities to control crawling insects and other pests.
Defense Point 3: Environment
The areas surrounding a producer’s facilities are considered the environment. Pests may use these areas to breed and replenish their numbers. This defense point can play a significant role in reducing the pest population by frequently treating the outside environment.
Fly traps, fly baits and spot sprays can be used in the environment to controls pests. Additionally, screens can also be used to help keep pests out of indoor working areas. Another treatment measure in the environment would be cleaning manure out of working areas regularly, which eliminates the breeding site for some species of flies.
Defense Point 4: Feed-through
Feed-through or in-animal is another effective treatment area that disrupts the life cycle of particular pests. For example, several species of fly can flourish on the natural actions of cattle, both feeding and laying their eggs directly in the livestock manure.
Treatment at this defense point primarily consists of feed-through larvicide products to control flies that reproduce in the manure.
Why it works
“Many parasites need to be treated with more than one approach,” Sears says. “There aren’t too many parasites where you can do just one thing somewhere and expect the optimum control. So, we treat with the multiple approaches or defense points.”
At the same time, Sears continues, some parasites have only one primary place at which they can be controlled. The Defense Point System helps guide producers there, as well. It ensures that the primary defense point where the pest thrives is addressed so a producer doesn’t miss the mark for treatment.
With the 4 defense points, a producer can ensure their operation is being fully treated for all the pests in their operation. It takes an integrated approach, Sears says. Each of the defense points are essentially key treatment areas where pests thrive, ensuring they are eliminated at every level.
For example, consider Defense Point 3 — environment. If the surrounding environment of a producer’s operation is a breeding ground for the pest of concern, it is logical to eliminate the pest at that point. While treating on the animal (Defense Point 1) is also a solution, a more proactive approach is taken when both defense points are addressed.
“These parasites are not easy to control,” Sears says. “You can have something very effective in one particular defense point or one part of the cycle, but in some cases, if you haven’t addressed one of the others you’re probably not going to be happy with the result.”
How it works
Producers can implement the Defense Point System fairly easily once they understand the four points. However, Sears says that rather than starting with a defense point, producers should identify their pests. Once producers know the problematic pests they want to treat within their operation, they can use the Defense Point System to effectively treat the pests with those most effective products in the best places.
“The ideal scenario would be to pick a product or application from each defense point to optimize your chances for the best control,” Sears says.
He further explains that the treatments depend on the parasite. For some parasites, there may not be a product to treat with from every defense point. A producer would then dismiss that defense point because it doesn’t pertain to the problematic parasite on their operation.
“Start with the parasite or parasites that are of concern,” Sears says, “then you work through the various points.”
The best way to use the Defense Point System is to think of it as a guide in pest management to ensure that every point for a pest is addressed. It is also important to note each defense point is most effective during a particular season. Each defense point will be a seasonal approach that will depend on the producer’s geographic location.
“It is really year around and ongoing,” Sears says. “We would like to say we are going to get up one day and do this or that to control pests and solve the problem. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. It is an ongoing set of things to do.”
Take note
Another important aspect of the Defense Point System has to do with rotating chemical classes of products, Sears says. While using the Defense Point System will lead to success in a producer’s operation, it will only go so far if pests develop a resistance to the products a producer uses for treatment.
“The critical point here is to rotate chemical classes from year to year to lessen the resistance and prevent it,” Sears says. “Producers will still stay with a particular defense point, but they need to work through the various products within it.”
To have success in rotation, Sears suggests keeping detailed records. Tracking when a product was used will make rotating easy. He also suggests identifying a resource that shows what category and class each product is in.
Most Bayer products identify a product’s class with a color-coded system. When it is time for a producer to rotate, they simply identify which color their current product is in and then select a product from another color. For more information about rotation and additional resources, visit bayerlivestock.com.
Controlling pests is as much of a nuisance as the pests themselves. The Defense Point System helps producers think through their operation’s pest control strategy to ultimately be successful. Additionally, pest control treatments are a significant cost for producers and the Defense Point System can help a producer’s dollar go further, while also providing some comfort.
“To me, it is discomforting to be spending money, buying product and spending time applying product and not really being sure if you are doing the right thing,” Sears says. “That is the biggest plus with the Defense Point System. It gives some comfort to producers that they are really doing the logical and right thing.”
“Livestock Pests” is excerpted from the February 2018 issue of The Cattleman magazine.