Fly issues extend beyond annoyance, often leading to neglected maintenance and compromised pig health and biosecurity. Flies are potent disease carriers, not only spreading illnesses within a barn but also between barns and sites. The root cause of fly problems in the hog industry is often dry manure, forming a hospitable environment for egg-laying. Flies’ life cycles vary with temperature but primarily involve the adult and larva stages, both of which we can effectively address.
Controlling these stages is crucial to mitigating fly-related challenges and maintaining a healthier barn environment. Our team goes over some helpful tips on manure management.
Tips on How to Manage Manure Crusting and Flies
- Timely and Consistent Manure Management
An essential practice in effective manure management is the timely removal of manure to prevent the development of fly larvae. By promptly removing manure and eliminating manure piles, you can maintain manageable fly levels.
To further control fly populations and ensure a clean work environment, incorporate practices like cleaning up spilled feed, preventing manure accumulation around barns and fences, and removing decaying organic matter. Trimming grasses and weeds low around barns, feeders, hutches, and manure piles is crucial to eliminate resting spots for flies.
- Target Flies at the Adult Stage
Focusing on eliminating adult flies appears straightforward. Effective insecticides with residual effects can be a game-changer. However, the challenge lies in the time-consuming and tricky application process, especially in the crucial barn area—the crust—where flies continuously spawn the next generation.
- Target Flies at the Larva Stage
The larva stage, which eventually becomes the next generation of adult flies, presents a concern. While effective larvicides exist, some obstacles include limited control over feed formulations and high costs.
At Healthy Farms, we offer a cost-effective solution called Biocide. This all-natural larvicide is safe for pigs and flies but detrimental to maggots. It contains Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria, which releases endotoxins for maggots to consume. Application is straightforward—simply spread the granules in the barn or rinse them in during power washing between turns for added convenience.
- Treat the Crust with Effective Products
At Healthy Farms, our expertise lies in organic matter breakdown. Users of AgraSphere or AgraSlat already benefit from reduced fly habitat with a liquid top. Plus, we offer a guarantee: if you experience any crusting, our crust-eliminating products come to the rescue at no cost.
- AgraSphere
AgraSphere is an eco-friendly manure treatment dispenser that’s both safe and all-natural. It effectively liquefies suspended solids and sludges, targeting the root of the issues at the bottom. Our product enhances your storage capacity while reducing problems like sludge buildup, crusting, foaming, and unpleasant odors.
- AgraSlat
AgraSlat can treat and reduce the chances of crusting by liquefying sludge and slurry. This biodegradable manure treatment dispenser is designed to fit effortlessly into any slat, utilizing patented time-release technology. It’s custom-engineered for filter barns, enhancing storage capacity while mitigating the issues of crusting and unpleasant odors.
Contact Us for More Tips on Manure Management
Do you need further guidance on how to manage the manure on your farm? Contact our team and we’ll direct you towards suitable products and tips.