Efficacy of broilers as a method of face fly (Musca autumnalis de geer) larva control for organic dairy production

Hannah N. Phillips; Roger D Moon; Ulrike S Sorge; Bradley J. Heins

doi:10.3390/ani10122429

Efficacy of broilers as a method of face fly (Musca autumnalis de geer) larva control for organic dairy production

Hannah N. Phillips, Roger D Moon, Ulrike S Sorge, Bradley J. Heins

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate Freedom-Ranger broiler chickens as a method to control face fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) larvae in cow dung pats on pasture. Ninety-nine pats in three replicates were inoculated with first-instar larvae and exposed to one of four treatment conditions for 3 to 4 days: (1) an environment-controlled greenhouse (GH); (2) pasture without broilers (NEG); (3) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a low density of 2.5 m² of outdoor area per broiler (LOW); and (4) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a high density of 0.5 m² of outdoor area per broiler (HIGH). Broiler behaviors and weather conditions were recorded twice daily. Survival rates of larvae (mean, 95% CI) were similar for pats in the NEG (4.4%, 2–9%), LOW (5.6%, 3–11%), and HIGH (3.2%, 2–7%) groups, and was greatest for larvae reared in the GH (54.4%, 36–72%) group compared to all other groups. The proportion of broilers observed pasture ranging was 14.0% (6–28%) but was negatively related to solar radiation. Broilers were never observed foraging in pats. Results indicate that use of broilers may not be an effective method for controlling larvae of dung pat breeding flies.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	2429
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Number of pages	14
Journal	Animals
Volume	10
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122429
State	Published - 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734.

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

Animal welfare
Behavior
Broiler chickens
Dairy cattle
Dung fly
Face fly
Fly control
Organic
Pasture
Pest management

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10.3390/ani10122429

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@article{0453a0ff70e54a0a840a612d2b9d079d,

title = "Efficacy of broilers as a method of face fly (Musca autumnalis de geer) larva control for organic dairy production",

abstract = "The objective of this study was to evaluate Freedom-Ranger broiler chickens as a method to control face fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) larvae in cow dung pats on pasture. Ninety-nine pats in three replicates were inoculated with first-instar larvae and exposed to one of four treatment conditions for 3 to 4 days: (1) an environment-controlled greenhouse (GH); (2) pasture without broilers (NEG); (3) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a low density of 2.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (LOW); and (4) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a high density of 0.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (HIGH). Broiler behaviors and weather conditions were recorded twice daily. Survival rates of larvae (mean, 95% CI) were similar for pats in the NEG (4.4%, 2–9%), LOW (5.6%, 3–11%), and HIGH (3.2%, 2–7%) groups, and was greatest for larvae reared in the GH (54.4%, 36–72%) group compared to all other groups. The proportion of broilers observed pasture ranging was 14.0% (6–28%) but was negatively related to solar radiation. Broilers were never observed foraging in pats. Results indicate that use of broilers may not be an effective method for controlling larvae of dung pat breeding flies.",

keywords = "Animal welfare, Behavior, Broiler chickens, Dairy cattle, Dung fly, Face fly, Fly control, Organic, Pasture, Pest management",

author = "Phillips, {Hannah N.} and Moon, {Roger D} and Sorge, {Ulrike S} and Heins, {Bradley J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734. Funding Information: This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.3390/ani10122429",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "10",

pages = "1--14",

journal = "Animals",

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T1 - Efficacy of broilers as a method of face fly (Musca autumnalis de geer) larva control for organic dairy production

AU - Phillips, Hannah N.

AU - Moon, Roger D

AU - Sorge, Ulrike S

AU - Heins, Bradley J.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734. Funding Information: This research was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture, grant number 2016-51300-25734. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - The objective of this study was to evaluate Freedom-Ranger broiler chickens as a method to control face fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) larvae in cow dung pats on pasture. Ninety-nine pats in three replicates were inoculated with first-instar larvae and exposed to one of four treatment conditions for 3 to 4 days: (1) an environment-controlled greenhouse (GH); (2) pasture without broilers (NEG); (3) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a low density of 2.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (LOW); and (4) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a high density of 0.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (HIGH). Broiler behaviors and weather conditions were recorded twice daily. Survival rates of larvae (mean, 95% CI) were similar for pats in the NEG (4.4%, 2–9%), LOW (5.6%, 3–11%), and HIGH (3.2%, 2–7%) groups, and was greatest for larvae reared in the GH (54.4%, 36–72%) group compared to all other groups. The proportion of broilers observed pasture ranging was 14.0% (6–28%) but was negatively related to solar radiation. Broilers were never observed foraging in pats. Results indicate that use of broilers may not be an effective method for controlling larvae of dung pat breeding flies.

AB - The objective of this study was to evaluate Freedom-Ranger broiler chickens as a method to control face fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) larvae in cow dung pats on pasture. Ninety-nine pats in three replicates were inoculated with first-instar larvae and exposed to one of four treatment conditions for 3 to 4 days: (1) an environment-controlled greenhouse (GH); (2) pasture without broilers (NEG); (3) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a low density of 2.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (LOW); and (4) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a high density of 0.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (HIGH). Broiler behaviors and weather conditions were recorded twice daily. Survival rates of larvae (mean, 95% CI) were similar for pats in the NEG (4.4%, 2–9%), LOW (5.6%, 3–11%), and HIGH (3.2%, 2–7%) groups, and was greatest for larvae reared in the GH (54.4%, 36–72%) group compared to all other groups. The proportion of broilers observed pasture ranging was 14.0% (6–28%) but was negatively related to solar radiation. Broilers were never observed foraging in pats. Results indicate that use of broilers may not be an effective method for controlling larvae of dung pat breeding flies.

KW - Animal welfare

KW - Behavior

KW - Broiler chickens

KW - Dairy cattle

KW - Dung fly

KW - Face fly

KW - Fly control

KW - Organic

KW - Pasture

KW - Pest management

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DO - 10.3390/ani10122429

M3 - Article

C2 - 33353115

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SN - 2076-2615

VL - 10

SP - 1

EP - 14

JO - Animals

JF - Animals

IS - 12

M1 - 2429

ER -

Efficacy of broilers as a method of face fly (Musca autumnalis de geer) larva control for organic dairy production

Abstract

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