Scheduled sanitation to reduce stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) populations in beef cattle feedlots

Abstract

Sanitation has been long recommended as a means of reducing stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), populations at cattle, feedlots, but there is little published research to support this recommendation. In each of the 2 yr of this study, 4 feedlots received complete sanitation and 4 feedlots received no cleaning. The objective was to have the initial cleaning done before 1 June and then to reclean as needed every 2 wk thereafter. The feedlots that were cleaned had significantly fewer flies than the uncleaned feedlots, with 50.9% fewer stable flies during the 1st yr and 36.2% fewer flies in the 2nd yr. These reductions were realized even though initial cleaning was not done by 1 June in either year: bad weather delayed completion until 20 June the 1st yr and 29 June the 2nd yr. Sanitation at cattle feedlots significantly reduces stable fly populations and sanitation may have been more effective if initial cleaning was done by 1 June.