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Arkansas Livestock Pest Management

Four black cows with heads in a feeding trough and horn flies on their bodies.

Insects, mites and ticks are all too familiar to livestock and poultry producers as well as pet and companion animal owners. Pests vary from annoying to deadly. 

In extreme situations, arthropod pest infestations may result in the death of the infested animal. Just like crop pests, animal pests are best managed using integrated pest management (IPM). We use a variety of feasible, effective and legal means to manage a specific pest species. The most important aspect of this system is the identification and monitoring of the pest population to develop an action threshold.

Integrated pest management methods used to control a pest may include cultural, regulatory, biological, mechanical and chemical (insecticides and/or acaricides). In addition to pests that feed directly on the animal, we are also concerned with important pests of livestock forages and livestock premises. Information in the form of factsheets, newsletters and other written material are available for the major arthropod pest species found in Arkansas.

Photo of three black cows with yellow tags in their ears

How to Control Face Flies on Cattle

Face flies tend to be a bigger issue for cattle producers in the northern half of Arkansas. Although this pest fly does not reach pest status every ear like the horn fly, it will be observed almost every year in north Arkansas.

horn fly feeding on cattle

How to Control Horn Flies on Cattle

A horn fly (Haematobia irritans) is about half the size of a house fly and spends most of its time on the back, head and shoulders of its host.

General livestock pest resources

The Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas (MP 144) lists insecticides labeled to control specific pest species and is divided into sections based on commodities.

Pest Management Publications

 

 
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