cows inside a barn

Livestock IPM

Learn to deal with the pests, the mites, ticks, flies, and lice that plague your livestock

We help you deal with pests—with the mites, ticks, flies, and lice that plague your livestock. Our research, workshops, demonstrations, and publications help you find answers to problems new and old. Each farmer has different problems and different needs and pest management doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it's closely linked with other management decisions on the farm. That's why we work closely with local extension educators, crop consultants and agricultural businesses, Cornell University faculty, and you to teach economically and environmentally sound ways of dealing with pest and farm management problems. We are part of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Dung Beetles of New York State Cattle & Dairy Pastures

Dung beetles play a vital role in improved soil health and pasture ecology, reducing populations of horn and face flies by as much as 95 percent and contributing to healthy milk production in dairy and weight gain in beef cattle.

Visual Guide to Dung Beetles
a collage of dung beetles not to size

Livestock Pests

Asian Longhorned Tick

Asian longhorned feed on many hosts but prefer cattle. Large numbers of ticks infest one host at one time which weakens the animal and can impact milk production. In extreme cases, Asian longhorned tick infestations can result in the death of the host animal.  

Fly management

Non Toxic Fly Traps

These are non-toxic or non-pesticide pasture fly traps for horn, horse, deer and stable flies. The traps can help reduce the population of these flies on pasture. The traps can be use as part of an Integrated Pest Management Program for pasture fly management.

Livestock Pests

Stable Flies

This is a video about stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, found on cattle.

Este es un video de moscas estables (Stomoxys calcitrans) en ganado

Livestock Pests

Horn Flies

This video shows how to identify horn flies, and their impact on cattle. The video discusses what part of the animal they infest, their impacts on production and health of the animal, and at what threshold should the fly be controlled.

Este es un video de moscas de los cuernos (Haematobia irritans) en ganado

Livestock Pests

Face Flies

This video shows how to identify face flies, and their impact on cattle. The video discusses what part of the animal they infest, their impacts on production and health of the animal, and at what threshold should the fly be controlled. 

Este es un video de moscas de la cara (Musca autumnalis) en ganado

Biocontrol for Flies

Dung Beetles in Pasture

This video on is how dung beetles recycle manure into the soil and compete with horn and face flies for the resource.

microscope view of a brown tick
A clear container with many flies gathered at the bottom
a fly
horn flies on a cows back
a cow with flies on it's face
dung beetle
VetPestX

Searchable database of registered pesticides to control pests of animals

microscope view of a brown tick
Asian Longhorned Tick

The Asian longhorned tick is an invasive tick that primarily impacts livestock health.

Video: Non-toxic or non-pesticide pasture fly traps for horn, horse, deer and stable flies.The traps can help reduce the population of these flies on pasture. The traps can be use as part of an Integrated Pest Management Program for pasture fly management.

Diagnostic Resources

eCommons Publications

Livestock publications in the New York State Integrated Pest Management publications collection are available to download from the Cornell University Library's eCommons service. 

Flies

Biocontrol for flies

Muscidifurax raptor & M. raptorellus — parasitoid wasps that search and find fly pupae in manure or decomposing moist organic matter often found near barns. They are effective at controlling house flies and stable flies in and around livestock facilities when used as part of an Integrated Pest Management program.

Dung Beetles

Dung beetles play a vital role in improved soil health and pasture ecology, reducing populations of horn and face flies by as much as 95 percent.

Traps

Non-Toxic Pasture Fly Traps for Cattle (YouTube) - 3 minutes • 2018

portrait of Ken Wise
Ken Wise

Senior Extension Associate

NYS Integrated Pest Management

Ken Wise