Dust Bags

Summer is fly season for cattle. That is an aspect of ranching that often goes neglected. Not because lack of effort or desire, but mainly because of the magnitude of the problem. With only running 12 pairs in one pasture, we hope to make a good dent in our fly problem.

There are numerous means of tending to flys. Oilers are popular. Supplementing fly deterrents through salt  blocks are common. Fly repellent in ear tags is a thing. We chose to go the dust bag route. I've not been around this, but it is simple, inexpensive, and quite effective, based on our research. 

Horn Flys gathered on the back of cows is a common site from June to September. They are an annoyance at best and infectious at worst. Recently, in the southern US, there has been detection of Screw Worms, which are flys that imbed and spreads in live flesh verses feces like most flys. All this considered, we wanted to do our part to deter any flys from propagating.   

I've had different ideas of how to hang the bags. Dust bags are 80% effective when used in forced settings. Meaning, in settings where the cattle are forced to walk under them to get water or salt or the like. So I thought the gateway into the water and out to pasture would be good.

So I swung a lariat from one post to another, with the bags hanging in between and a half-hitch on the other end.

Then took the dust concentrate, 

And filled the bags.

Looks decent. 

This cow gets the idea, anyway.

Wanting to force the cows to use them, I closed the gap with an extra panel. 

However, by mid day, only about three cows had dared to walk under them. I don't doubt they would find the courage eventually and use them confidently, but I didn't want to take the chance.

So I hung them down in the shed where Dad told me to put them in the first place!

Alls well that ends well. I hope they take advantage of these back rubs. Time will tell. They like to camp out in this shed during the heat of the day. If nothing else, it should keep the flys from concentrating down here. Fly control can be an overwhelming project. I pray that researchers be given the wisdom necessary to get a grip on the Screw Worm scenario. Nobody needs an infestation of any sorts. A county boy will survive. Ranch on.