Project Number: 5440-32000-009-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2005
End Date: Apr 30, 2010

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research is to characterize the physiological response of cattle to stable fly bites as part of an overall project to determine the economic impact of stable flies on livestock production.

Approach:
Stanchioned calves will be exposed to numbers of stable flies simulating low, medium and high natural biting rates (0,5,30 and 50 stable flies per front leg). Doses will be dependent upon obtaining UNL Animal Care Committee approval. Hormones related to physiological stress, weight gain and feed conversion will be assessed to determine the physiological responses of the calves to those levels of biting.