Ok all - what have your experiences been with the different feed through fly control supplements? Anyone using Simplifly or Multifly? Any side effects or safety concerns I should look into?
I feed Simplifly and use fly predators. Last year I also did both, but quit the Simplifly earlier than usual in the fall and consequently had a resurgence of flies. I won’t do that again.
They all work to the extent they can, which means they only work on manure-feeding insects, all horses on the property have to be on it, and non-using livestock can’t be close enough to use your horses for meals. Some prevent larva from becoming adults by messing with hormones. Some prevent the formation of the exoskeleton so the insect dies of “exposure”
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I use Simplifly as part of a comprehensive fly control program.
In addition to the feed-thru, I have a barn fly control system, pastures are dragged weekly and stall manure is removed from the property weekly. We also use fly sprays and traps. This is the first year I’m not using predators, but I just don’t think they help much in our situation.
My biggest challenge is that I live on a road full of horse farms, surrounded by other horse farms. So I get the neighbor’s flies in addition to my own.
I think the barn fly spray system is the biggest single help, but the feed thru also makes a noticeable improvement.
I’m using SimpliFly this year. Some years, depending upon which is the best price including shipping cost, I feed Equitrol II. Both are from Farnam, have the same active ingredient (an insect growth regulator, or IGR), and the same meal ingredients.
In my climate, I feed it March through October. Here there are only filth flies (such as house flies), not horse flies or deer flies, etc.
Last year was my first year using Simplifly and it was awesome! It is an essential on my farm now. I combine this with harrowing the pastures weekly. I muck the stalls out into the pasture and harrow it all in so I don’t have much of a manure pile ( I only have 3 stalls). I tried fly predators for one year and found them to be ineffective. Fans in the barn helps to keep flies out as well. I also have an H-trap set up outside the barn and I find it catches lots of barn flies as well as deer flies and horse flies. After having it up for about 3 years, there are hardly any biting flies around (other than mosquitoes).
