More and more farmers across Western Canada are experimenting with feeding their cattle garlic infused minerals to help keep flies away.
The original idea is credited to farmer Richard Carr of Steinbach, Man. who, in 2010, started hand mixing garlic powder into the minerals he was feeding his cattle.
After originally being ridiculed, the idea, which seemed to be working, started spreading and more and more farmers are now using the mixture.
“We started with some small pails. Our horse guys were mixing the garlic in with the minerals and then feeding them to their horses,” said Ed Cadieux, manager at the Bonnyville Co-Op, which sells the mixture.
“Then our feed plant in Edmonton said they were going to make a 2-to-1 mineral with garlic in it. I thought it was a pretty good idea as it was working for our local horse guys,” added Cadieux. “They seem to be responding quite well.”
What Cadieux likes best about the product is that it offers producers in the region a safer way to repel flies off their cattle and horses.
“Garlic is way more gentle and can still be sweated out and repel the flies. It is safe and the animals like to eat it,” said Cadieux.
“Farmers used to buy sulfur salt blocks. The animals would lick the salt block and they would sweat out the sulfur and it would be a form of fly control. Then they found out that the sulfur was a little hard on the liver and kidneys; it wasn't life threatening, but it was not natural to eat that. Garlic is a natural herb.”
Local farmer Ulf Herd was convinced to give the garlic mix a try after a trip to Co-Op. He started using it in July and says it is too early to know for certain if it is working.
“It is really hard to tell whether I am seeing any results or not because the cattle still have flies,” said Herd. “So far, if it is making a difference it is not that much.”
Even though the results have yet to be noticeable, Herd still plans to keep using the product.
“It doesn't hurt using it, so I think I will stick with it,” said Herd. “I can't give it a glowing report saying my flies have dropped by 45 per cent or 80 per cent because I just don't know.”
Cadieux is also using the mixture at his farm and recommends others in the region give it a try even though the results might not be there at first.
“Some years there is an abundance of flies and there is really nothing you can do about it. Other years this stuff seems to work,” said Cadieux. “There are not as many options for fly control as their used to be. The garlic is just a gentle alternative to using chemicals.”
