Give Garlic a Go This Summer

There is no doubt it has been a great start to the summer across the country. However, with the pleasant weather comes a separate set of challenges for stock people and with earlier than normal cases of fly-strike reported, the best advice has been to try to prevent flies and other biting insects rather than dealing with the issues they leave behind.

Not only do flies have a role to play in passing infections such as mastitis and pinkeye, but they are also very irritating for stock and will result in reduced time grazing, as well as running the risk of fly-strike, all of which can reduce stock performance. Other biting insects are associated with spreading diseases such as Schmallenberg and Bluetongue which have potentially devastating consequences at lambing and calving time, with increased risk of abortions, empty dams and severe birth defects. Garlic also has anti-microbial properties.

Fighting flies and insects is best tackled from many angles, with everything from making sure animals are clean and keeping the most at-risk animals away from known fly hotspots, to using appropriate animal medicines at strategic times. Additionally, we are seeing an increase in the use of mineral lick buckets to support animal performance throughout the summer, which is a perfect opportunity to tackle flies and biting insects from another angle.

At Harbro, we can add a combination of natural garlic extract and pure garlic, which help to discourage flies and biting insects, to a range of our summer mineral licks. The extract contains concentrated levels of garlic components which help to repel flies and other insects such as midges and the garlic bucket acts as a natural fly and biting insect repellent due to the high sulphur compounds that repel flies. The effect of the garlic builds up over time, so it is important to get buckets out to stock as soon as possible to have maximum effect.

SUMMER GRAZER + GARLIC

To be fed to cattle at grass to help repel
flies and other insects such as midges.

•  Key trace elements to enhance forage utilisation
  and rumen function.
• Highly palatable for good intakes.
• Maximise cattle performance at grass.
• Contains sodium to increase mineral absorption and prevent dehydration in warmer weather.
• Contains multiple garlic sources to help prevent flies and biting insects.