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Insect Growth Regulator

boboren
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Feb 14, 2006, 7:23 PM

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Insect Growth Regulator	Can't Post

I am not sure this is the right place for this question. We have received some information on Solitude IGR which, when mixed with feed, will prevent stable and house fly larvae from developing into adults. It is a pellet and 1/2 oz. per day is top-dressed on a horse's feed. Apparently the larvae cannot develop into adults and this causes them to die.

Have any of you tried this program yet and if so, how successful did you find it to be?

I don't know what the cost factor is yet, but if it has been proven to be effective, we would certainly like to give it a try.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

CJuneau
Bronze Member

Feb 16, 2006, 12:53 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1385 views)
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Re: [boboren] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bob,
I have not used this product and am interested to hear also if anyone has used it and if they received good results. Smile

Here are some things that have worked for me in keeping insects at bay: Fly traps: you can make one or buy them at Agway/Southern States. They smell TERRIBLE and flys love it, checking in and they can't check out. Placing one outside of the barn funnels the flies outside and away from stalls.
Also keeping manure away from the barn as much as possible. I spread it immediatly in an area far from my horses, and this helps.(There is nothing worse in the summer than a manure pile behind a barn).
Anyone else have any good ideas for keeping flies/insects away from the barn?
Also, worth mentioning I have had limited luck with feeding garlic to ward off bugs. Healthwise, it is all natural and good for them but(in my experience) won't cure a fly problem.
Christina

boboren
Member

Feb 16, 2006, 3:42 PM

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Re: [CJuneau] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

Christine,
It doesn't look like anyone else has used something like this either. There have been a lot of reviews but no replies. Hopefully, someone will review the post that is able to give us some first hand knowledge.

We have tried the fly traps, but the smell really go so bad that we quit using them.

Unfortunately I have had my manure pile right next to the stable and my wife wants me to put it somewhere else. I put it there for convenience as I didn't want to have to wheelbarrow it a long distance every day. About every two weeks, I use my tractor and front end loader to move the small pile to the back of our property. (About 400 yards away) Looks like I better make the pile further away from our stable.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

JimHess
Silver Member

Feb 18, 2006, 3:42 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1374 views)
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Re: [boboren] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

We've been using Equitrol, by Farnum for years. It is also a feed-through fly control product. We have very little problem with flies in our barnyard, except for the summer before last, when as an experiment we didn't use any, and seemed to have more flies than usual. We went back to it last summer, and also tried using "Fly Predators" from Spaulding Laboratories in California. You sprinkle them around the manure pile. Their website is www.spaldinglabs.com . Dr. Robert Miller, DVM, recommends them. Just in checking the current Jeffers catalog, it looks like Solitude is about double the price of Equitrol, even factoring one oz. versus half oz. dose.

-Jim

UncleBuck
Member

Feb 19, 2006, 11:11 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1363 views)
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Re: [boboren] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

Have you guys read the warning labels on these products

Five years ago, I tried "EQUITROL" (active ingredient - Rabon) did not notice that much of a difference, that plus the warnings on the label - Human and evironmental. Its not worth the risk of contaminating the ground water ( I have a well, pond, plus I have a a couple of brooks bordering my property), Just one quote from the label of equitrol "Wear long-sleeved shirt and pants; chemical resistant gloves; shoes and socks for protection when handling." here is another "This pesticide is toxic to fish. Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipment washwater." How can I control the run off after a heavy rain?
Solitude IGR (active ingredient- Cyromazine) it has the same warnings on its label.
In my opinion, the benefit of using it does not out weigh the hazards, your situation might be different , but it was not worth it for me, that plus my daughter was involved with 4-H which meant there was a lot of kids around the barn. For me - just not worth it

Buck

UncleBuck
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Feb 19, 2006, 11:24 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1362 views)
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Re: [boboren] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

Need to add, Equitrol (contacted "Farnam" by e-mail back then) does not recommend using this on foals (4 months or younger) another reason it did not pay for me

Buck

(This post was edited by UncleBuck on Feb 19, 2006, 11:28 PM)

CJuneau
Bronze Member

Feb 20, 2006, 8:48 AM

Post #7 of 10 (1355 views)
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Re: [UncleBuck] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Buck,
Thanks for the information and I am in agreement with you...NOT woth it! There are always going to be bugs and insects in the environment...they are actually a part of it and important. We can control the amount of flies etc in/around the barn by keeping manure away from horse areas and by using natural solutions(the fly traps may stink...but do help). Running fans in the barn also keeps Flies away from horses. Smile

Christina

mffarmall
Member

May 31, 2006, 11:46 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1164 views)
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Re: [CJuneau] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have found that cleaning up the manur and using a fly trap works well. I try to get the manure up and then I take it out into the fields and rake it under. I also use garlic. But I find that it helps keep creatures of the night away. Tongue

I would hate to see my beautiful horse turn into a bat and fly away. I don't think she would be able to get much blood from her hay pile.

CJuneau
Bronze Member

May 31, 2006, 2:07 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1161 views)
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Re: [mffarmall] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have heard that garlic works quite well and I am encouraged that you have had luck with it. I just started using it and realize it takes a few weeks to get in to the system and see a difference.
:)

boboren
Member

Oct 29, 2006, 8:12 PM

Post #10 of 10 (930 views)
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Re: [CJuneau] Insect Growth Regulator [In reply to]	Can't Post

I haven't tried garlic yet! However, rather than use something for my horses to eat, I thought I would use Fly Predator early this Spring. At first, I was a little leery about trying it. However, there is no doubt to my wife and I that using Fly Predator from Spaulding Laboratories has been very, very successful. We noticed very few flies this summer as compared to last year. And, I did not have to use fly spray in the stalls or on the horses. We did use some fly strips, but did not have to buy many as compared to the last two years. My neighbor has about 6 cows and I always put some in the field next to my area and it cut down significantly on those flies also.

Definitely worth trying.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

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