Hi,
I am new to raising cattle. I have just one heifer for about 2 months. She has hundreds if not thousands of black flecks stuck in her fur against her skin on her back sides neck rump. They are all over. She itches and licks a lot. She is not emaciated, skinny. She has been struggling with loose stools and has a dirty rump. I noticed the horn flys, the ones that have the color of bumble bees yellow and fury looking on some patties. So i am sure she has cattle grubs and they are likely at the stage of hatching under her skin. Will DE be effective at this stage. I don't want to use Ivomectin. Anyone experience success at this stage and what natural treatment and dosages would be greatly appreciated.
Well I bought a 6x magnifying glass and plucked a few of these black larvae off and they perfectly match the images of louse (lice). Got some Diatamaceous Earth and powdered her deep the skin especially on the heavy invested areas. I took a couple of the lice in a glass dish with the DE and they were dead in 2 hours. Things look hopeful. I followed the cow around and inspected a good looking poop pile Immediately after she dropped it and it had 6 of those bee size flies with yellow bodies swarmed the patti.
I would still like some organic suggestions to prevent Warbles from these heel flies.
Thanks,
Patrick
. There is some belief out there that Ivermectin is bad for the soil and micro organism life when it is urinated and pooped out. This video from Gregg and Judy green on holistic cattle raising has influenced my thoughts and decisions a lot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6HGKSvjk5Q