Horn flies spend their time biting cattles' backs and midlines, spreading down their sides. This location is tough for cattle to reach, leading to the irritation that causes cattle to go off feed. To stop this problem, it is easier to attack flies where they lay their eggs and prevent the emergence of future populations.
Altosid® IGR is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that passes through the animal and into the manure, where horn flies lay their eggs. It breaks the horn fly life cycle, preventing pupae from developing into biting adult flies. There’s no need to round up or handle cattle because the animals spread the horn fly control as they graze, placing it in the exact location where horn flies lay their eggs.
An effective fly control program keeps horn fly levels at less than 200 flies per animal. Altosid® IGR controls horn flies resistant to the organophosphates and pyrethroids commonly used in conventional horn fly control products. In more than 40 years of use, there have been no known cases of insect resistance to Altosid® IGR.
1 Byford, R.L., Craig, M.E., Crosby, B.L., A Review of Ectoparasites and Their Effect on Cattle Production, J. Anim. Sci., 1992, 70:597-602.
2 NebGuide, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service.