Flies in cowsheds and piggeries — how to protect your herd and your production results
From spring to autumn, flies are one of the most persistent problems in livestock buildings. Cowsheds, piggeries and barns offer almost ideal breeding conditions – they are warm and damp, and there is no shortage of food in the form of feed residue and manure. A single female house fly (Musca domestica) can lay up to 600 eggs in her lifetime and reaches sexual maturity after just 9–10 days. Without effective control, the population grows explosively.
Real losses, not just a nuisance
Flies are more than an eyesore. On a livestock farm they cause measurable financial losses:
- Spreading disease. Flies carry bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli), viruses and fungi. They can travel up to 10 km a day, spreading pathogens not only within a herd but also between neighbouring farms.
- Lower cattle productivity. Studies show that the stress flies cause reduces daily weight gain by 90–200 g, milk yield by as much as 10–20% and milk fat content by about 7%. Milk from cowsheds with large fly populations is of poorer hygienic quality and may not be fit for sale.
- Stress in pigs. In piggeries, flies irritate the animals and cause aggression, and in sows they can even lead to young piglets being crushed.
Solution 1: MASTERFLY® BAIT — an innovative fly bait
MASTERFLY® BAIT is an insecticidal powder bait developed specifically for controlling flies in livestock buildings – piggeries, barns, cowsheds and dairy farms.
Active substance: dinotefuran (12.5%) – a third-generation neonicotinoid – combined with Z-9-tricosene (0.10%), a pheromone attractant that is exceptionally effective at drawing flies in, and tetramethrin (0.02%).
Key advantages:
- Long-lasting effect – up to 8 months after application.
- Exceptionally fast action – results visible within a few hours.
- Contains a lure pheromone that makes flies actively seek out the bait.
- Controls the house fly (Musca domestica) and the stable fly.
In the catalogueMASTERFLY® BAIT – fly bait for livestock buildingsHow to use it: the product is applied by painting – mix 100 g of product with 80 ml of water and apply it to surfaces with the applicator (included). 100 g of product covers 100 m². Formulation: water-soluble powder. No withdrawal period; protective gloves are required. Packs: 125 g container (cat. no. 5001211: 12 × 125 g) and 500 g container (cat. no. 5001212: 6 × 500 g). For professional use.
Solution 2: DIPTRON FOGGER CYPERMETHRIN — a fogger for hard-to-reach places
Alongside MASTERFLY® BAIT, consider DIPTRON FOGGER CYPERMETHRIN – a larvicidal, total-release aerosol insecticide. It is designed for controlling insects in hard-to-reach places: spaces above suspended ceilings, under roof coverings, in containers and in vehicles.
Active substance: cypermethrin (0.475%), PBO (1.425%). Formulation: a ready-to-use aerosol, activated by pressing the button once. One can (150 ml) treats 100 m³. Residual effect for up to 2 months.
It leaves no stains and is practically odourless. Case: 24 × 150 ml. For professional use; protective gloves are required.
In the catalogueDIPTRON FOGGER CYPERMETHRIN – fogging aerosol for flying and crawling insectsA comprehensive strategy
Effective fly control needs a multi-pronged approach: regular removal of litter and manure, cleaning troughs and drinkers, and proper ventilation – followed by professional products to back up these preventive measures. MASTERFLY® BAIT provides continuous fly control for months, while the DIPTRON® Fogger eliminates insects from the hardest-to-reach corners.
