Pedigree Query

does anyone have experience with feed through fly control? Wondering if it is something i should try this year. Thanks!
stacy

A breeding farm sued Farman a couple years ago. They had been feeding equitrol and had numerous problems with their breeding stock. Believe Farman had to pay them megabucks. I wouldn't risk it

Thanks Kristie! Good to know.

Thanks Kristie! Good to know.

On this same topic has anyone used Diatomaceous Earth (DE) as a feed through fly control for horses? If you google " Diatomaceous Earth fly control" you'll find a lot of sites that discuss it. Apparently its commonly used for cattle and other animals to control many parasites and the resulting output (in manure) will be laced with the stuff, so act on anything that attempts to lay eggs in it. It can also be dusted onto their coat as a contact insecticide.

The downsides that I can see are:
- You definitely don't want to breath this stuff (or let the horses breath it)
- If you use fly predators, it probably would also kill these (so waste your fly predator money)
- You need to make sure that your buying food grade DE if you're going to feed it
- It would also kill any other benificial insects where ever its spread (can't think of any benificial insects around the barn though)

I normally use fly predators @ $360/season. They only act on fly eggs (not adult flys) and for that price I could buy over 600 pounds of DE. So am debating which way to go. I would love to hear if anyone has used this stuff.

Here are some links:
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
http://www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html
http://www.internet-grocer.com/diatome.htm

Have been using Equitrol for years for my quarter horses. Works so well and never had a problem.
Also use Ultraspot every two weeks.

I used Serene and did okay. Really like the fly predators, tho they are more labor. Don't think the non-organophosphate feed-throughs like Serene are a risk for broodmares etc.

I heard plain white vinegar in their water tubs help, but not sure if it is true

Also, here are some HOMEMADE Fly Sprays you can try. I have no tryed any as of yet and not sure about reactions, but I've heard from others that they work well:

http://www.geocities.com/langleysaddle/flysprays.html

Spalding labs sells a fly paracite that works well for me.

the county said I could keep up to two horses in my back yard UNLESS the neighbors complained. Spaulding recommedns 1,000 fly predator eggs per horse per month amd their minimu order is 5,000. I have one yearling filly and a goat in the back yard and those 5,000 fly predator eggs per month are similar to releasing 5,000 foxes per month into a 10 acre wood to control rabbits.

The 5,000 eggs cost me less than$20 per month.