New 4-H educator joins UW Extension

The University of Wyoming (UW) Albany County Extension Office welcomed Amanda Dougherty as its new 4-H youth development educator.

Dougherty earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and biochemistry from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and achieved her PhD in animal and veterinary sciences at the University of Wyoming.

Most recently, Dougherty worked as a research associate at UW’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Dougherty enjoys sharing knowledge and inspiring youth and adults to get excited about science.

Since 2016, she has volunteered with the Wyo- ming Game and Fish Department as a hunter education instructor. She has also led outreach and educational workshops for the first Wyoming seed bank, which she cofounded.

Dougherty’s scientific expertise and volunteer work is complemented by her lifelong interest and background in agriculture. She is a third-generation farmer raised on a dairy farm in northern Illinois, and to this day, she runs a small hobby farm in Laramie.

Dougherty says, “Working in laboratories has taught me how to problem solve, be resilient and how to find reliable information, all of which I can bring to my new role. I am excited to become a part of the thriving 4-H community in Albany County and learn how the program can grow and change to meet the needs of its members.”

Dougherty began her work with UW Extension on July 5. She can be contacted at afluegel@uwyo. edu or 307-721-2571. involved in 4-H and FFA. During this year’s trip, a group of 50 made the trek to Ireland to advance their cultural understanding and develop skills and abilities to live and work effectively in a global society.

Continuing the family legacy

Dawn’s youngest children Cooper and Blair, are juniors at Burns High School and have been involved in 4-H since they were only five years old. Since then, they have raised various livestock on their family farm.

This year, Cooper will show sheep, goats, rabbits and ducks at the Laramie County Fair. When Cooper is not competing in the livestock ring, he participates in the local Burns FFA Chapter and competes on the Burns High School football, wrestling and track and field teams.

“This summer, I focused on my animals, putting work and sports to the side, and as a result, I have a better understanding of my animals,” stated Cooper.

Cooper continued, “What I enjoy most about 4-H is the traveling. We just got back from a 4-H International Exchange Program trip to Ireland.”

During the 10-day trip to Ireland, Cooper said, “We visited Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Howth and Galloway. We toured oyster, strawberry, dairy, beef and sheep farms and learned about Ireland’s farming philosophy. We tried fresh beef prepared especially for our group,” Cooper explained.

He expressed, “The people and guides were great, and it was beyond my expectations. I would definitely do another trip again.”

Creating new traditions

When it comes to Blair’s 4-H experience, she reflected on the influence she had from her older sister and cousin who competed in the horse world.

Since Blair started with the Cloverbuds, she has loved showing her animals. Starting with sheep and goats raised on the family farm, she has grown her livestock showing experience to include cattle, horses and ducks.

“I have been very fortunate, as I have been the recipient of the CatchA-Calf program at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS),” Blair stated.

The program is designed so successful participants secure their spot in the program by catching a calf in January. Then, in May they receive a live calf to feed out and raise, and one year later, they return with the animal as a market-ready steer at NWSS in Denver.

Blair continued, “This year, I am showing Ody, short for Odysseus –a wether Boer goat. He is the best. Raising an animal from birth is amazing, and you really get to know the animal and its personality.”

Blair explained showing year-round is a fulltime job, and when she isn’t working with livestock, she stays involved as a high school wrestling manager. She also competes in livestock judging competitions, and she is her 4-H club’s current reporter and FFA chapter vice president.

“What I enjoy most about 4-H and FFA is coaching kids,” Blair added.

Blair was part of a team which hosted the Banners-R-Cool showman clinics for Worland and Jackson kids this summer Blair explained, “4-H and FFA have allowed me the opportunity to become a great leader and develop my communication skills, all while learning to work with others. It’s a great opportunity.”

Cooper and Blair are currently prepping for the Laramie County Fair, where they will participate in various 4-H livestock events held Aug 2-12 at the Archer Complex in Cheyenne.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

interview with the Wyoming Livestock Roundup

The two experts outline the differences between the three species and offer some control options to help producers mitigate fly damage during summer months.

Horn flies

Schell explains horn flies, which are the smallest in size, are usually the most dominant of the three species in Wyoming. They can be found on the backs, sides, poll area and sometimes on the belly of cattle.

“With more moisture, cow manure where horn flies breed will stay wetter long enough for them to emerge more successfully than they do in drought,” he says. “When it is dry, manure patches will dry out before maggots complete development, which is why there are more horn flies this summer.”

Horn flies are blood suckers and can eat up to 30 blood meals per day.

“Economic losses associated with horn flies are estimated at more than $1 billion annually in the U.S.,” notes Boxler. “Horn fly feeding causes irritation, blood loss, decreased grazing efficacy, reduced weight gain and diminished milk production in mother cows. Additionally, horn flies have been implicated in the spread of summer mastitis.”

Boxler refers to several studies across the U.S. and Canada which have proven horn flies impact weight gain and can negatively affect weaning weights up to 15 percent. More specifically, a study conducted in Nebraska found weaning weights were 10 to 20 pounds higher in calves whose mothers received horn fly control treatments.

According to Boxler, there are multiple insecticide application options available to help manage horn flies including backrubbers, dust bags, insecticidal ear tags and strips, pour-ons, oral larvicides, low pressure sprayers, mist blower sprayers and the Vet Gun.

Schell notes, with the help of Derek Scasta, PhD and UW Rangeland Extension Specialist, he recently published a bulletin on horn fly management in Wyoming, which includes alternative control methods to combat insecticide resistance.

“Having multiple methods of control will give producers the best relief,” he states.

Stable flies

Like horn flies, stable flies are also blood suckers, and they mainly feed on the front legs of cattle.

However, according to Boxler, stable fly bites are more painful, and animals will usually react by stomping their legs, bunching up in pasture corners or standing in water to avoid getting bitten.

Boxler and Schell note although stable flies pose a serious threat to feedlot and dairy cattle, they can also have just as serious of an impact on pastured cattle as well.

“We are seeing more stable flies attacking livestock on pasture, especially in areas where hay was fed and there is a lot of waste hay residue,” Schell explains. “This is what stable flies like to breed in.”

“UNL research recorded a reduction in average daily gain of 0.44 pounds per head with animals receiving no insecticide treatment compared to animals receiv- ing a treatment,” says Boxler. According to Boxler, animal sprays are the most effective control method for adult flies on grazing cattle.

To read UW’s Horn Fly Management for Wyoming Cattle Bulletin, visit wyoextension.org/publications/Search_ Details.php?pubid=2108&pub=B-1386.

“Sprays can be applied using a low-pressure sprayer or can be applied with a mist blower sprayer. Weekly applications of these products will be required to achieve reduction in fly numbers,” Boxler says.

Schell points out, for cattle on range, this may not always be feasible or cost effective. Instead, he suggests using indirect methods of application such as dust bags. He also notes, although expensive, producers may consider using oral insecticide products.

“Sanitation or clean-up of wasted feed at winter feeding sites may reduce localized fly development. If sanitation is not possible, these sites may be treated with a larvicide like Neporex,” Boxler adds. “But, the application of either procedure may not totally reduce the economic impact of stable fly feeding.” Face flies

Lastly, as the larger and darker of the bunch, face flies more closely resemble house flies and are non-biting flies, feeding mostly on animal secretions and nectar.

Face flies cluster around animal eyes, mouths and muzzles, causing irrita- tion and annoyance. These flies are present all summer – along waterways, areas with a lot of rainfall, canyon floors with trees and irrigated pastures – but populations usually peak in late July and August.

For cattle producers, the biggest concern with face flies is the transmission of pinkeye, a highly contagious inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva of cattle.

“Female face fly feeding causes damage to eye tissues, increases susceptibility to eye pathogens and Moraxella bovis (M. bovis), the causal agent of pinkeye or infectious bovine keratoconjuctivitis,” Boxler explains.

“If coupled with the infectious bovine rhinotrachetis virus, M. bovis can cause a much more severe inflammatory condition,” he adds. “Controlling face flies is essential in reducing most pinkeye problems.”

In order to control face flies, Boxler suggests producers utilize daily insecticide application options such as dust bags, oilers, sprays or insecticidal ear tags and strips. He also notes both cows and calves must be treated to achieve maximum control of the pest.

“Pinkeye vaccines are available and should be considered if face flies and pinkeye have been a recurring problem,” Boxler concludes. “Currently, commercial and autogenous pinkeye vaccines are available, but please check with a local veterinarian about the use of these products in your area.”

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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