The control of flies in poultry farms is very difficult with the requirement to
store dung and ongoing resistance to some of the knockdown products available. Increased
washing of deep pit sheds to control salmonella in the environment has made manure
management more difficult and wet manure is an ideal environment for flies to multiply.
Many farms have seen an increase in enteritis with loose droppings. This also leads
to a higher moisture level in the manure and higher fly populations.
For many years the main method of control has been to kill the adult flies with
the use of various chemicals and to apply a larvicidal product to the manure. This
has been effective, but increased chemical resistance together with some evidence
of resistance to the larvicidal products have led to large explosions in fly populations.
At some times the pit is being treated 2-3 times per week. This is both expensive
and time consuming.
There is some evidence that continual use of knockdowns is having an effect on bird
health and production. Compliance with Health and Safety is also very important.
See Methods of Control for details on biological control
as well as integrating these techniques with existing knockdown chemicals.