Flies cause significant welfare harm to cattle through biting, irritation, and disease transmission. Effective fly control is both a productivity and animal welfare priority on cattle operations.
Fly infestation causes genuine and measurable welfare harm to cattle. Beyond the direct pain of thousands of biting insects, cattle under heavy fly pressure experience chronic stress that suppresses immune function, reduces feed intake, and disrupts normal behavior patterns including grazing and social interaction. Long-term exposure to high fly loads represents a significant welfare deficit that is frequently underappreciated. Integrated pest management approaches offer effective fly reduction while minimizing environmental harms.