Towards an Organic System for Cattle Fly Control: a Push and a Pull?

Michale A. Birkett

Abstract
The role of volatile semio-chemicals in mediating the location and selection of Holstein- Friesian heifers by nuisance and disease-transmitting cattle flies was investigated.

Using volatile extracts collected by air entrainment from heifers, a number of active peaks were located by coupled GC-electrophysiology (GC-EAG) for Musca autumnalis and Haematobia irritans.

In total, 18 compounds were identified by coupled GC-MS. Of these, 6-methyl-5- hepten-2-one, when applied at physiologically relevant levels to low and high fly-loading heifers in a small herd, reduced fly-loads on these individuals and the difference in fly-load within the whole herds.

This study is the first report on the identification and use of volatile semio-chemicals to reduce fly-loads on individuals in the field, and provides, for the first time, evidence for the hypothesis that differential attractiveness within a host species is, in part, due to volatile semio-chemicals emitted from the host.


Source
"Organic Farming: Science and Practice for Profitable Livestock and Cropping"
Proceedings of Symposium No. 37, British Grassland Society, 2004
Association of Applied Biologist & Colloquium of Organic Researchers


Author Location and Affiliation
Biological Chemistry Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ, UK


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Posted October 2007