For livestock producers, midges and biting flies are more than just a seasonal nuisance. In wet and humid grazing environments, high insect pressure can affect cattle performance, grazing behaviour and overall welfare. Constant irritation can leave stock unsettled and stressed, spending less time grazing effectively and more time reacting to flies.
At Scotmin Nutrition, supporting livestock health and performance through practical nutritional solutions is at the heart of what we do. Working alongside West Mains Farm near Dumfries, we helped tackle the challenges caused by biting insects while supporting herd health and grazing performance.
A Diverse Beef Enterprise Facing a Familiar Challenge
Arron and Carol Cruickshank manage West Mains, a large and diverse beef enterprise with around 700 cattle finished on the farm. Alongside the main farm, they also operate a calf-rearing unit at nearby South Carthat Farm.
The business had already seen positive results using Scotmin’s ProActive feed tubs for calves, working closely with Tom Williams, Area Sales Manager and Nutritional Advisor.
However, some grazing cattle from West Mains spend time in grass lets nearby, with humidity levels increasing during rain spells in summer months. Areas like these offer ideal breeding conditions for midges and biting flies during the warmer months.
“Midges were a real issue, especially in the wetter areas that are grazed off,” explains Arron. “The cows were getting really bothered. Their eyes were watering and the heifers’ teats were being bitten, leading to a risk of mastitis.”
The persistent irritation was visibly affecting cattle behaviour and comfort levels.
“The animals were stressed and unsettled, which made it harder for them to graze effectively,” adds Carol. “Animal welfare is a priority for us, so finding a practical solution became essential.”
Introducing MEGALIX Garlic Grazer
Following discussions with Tom Williams, the Cruickshanks decided to trial MEGALIX Garlic Grazer tubs across the most affected grazing areas.
Six 80kg tubs were placed in fields where fly pressure was expected to be highest.
“We wanted to see how the cows would take to them and whether there would actually be a difference,” says Arron. “We’d never really fed tubs out to grazing cattle before.”
Calmer Cattle and Better Grazing Performance
The results were quickly noticeable.
While midges remained present in the environment, their impact on the cattle appeared significantly reduced.
“We saw a direct impact in the behaviour and comfort levels of the herd,” says Carol. “Cattle were visibly calmer and less agitated, particularly in areas that had previously been problematic.”
Arron also noticed a clear reduction in fly activity around the animals.
“We noticed a reduced fly population around the cows very quickly. We could tell the garlic was doing its job and the cows enjoyed the licks.”
By the end of the grazing season, the benefits extended beyond comfort alone.
“When the cows came in during the autumn, we could tell they had performed much better, were thriving and had achieved good intakes at grass,” he adds.
More Than Just Fly Control
Alongside helping to discourage flies naturally, MEGALIX Garlic Grazer also delivers an important mineral package designed to support health and performance at grass.
“I think the mineral package in the garlic tubs also made a difference,” says Arron. “Historically, we had never fed minerals out to cows at grass before, but seeing the benefits in terms of cow health, we will definitely continue doing it moving forward. It’s more than just a garlic tub.”
“The tub is a low-labour and convenient way of providing minerals at grass, and we find the cows are good at helping themselves and eating what they need.”
Tom Williams explains that the added nutritional support plays an important role.
“The inclusion of trace elements such as zinc and selenium helps support skin integrity, hoof condition and overall health,” he says. “Combined with garlic, which contains naturally occurring compounds such as allicin, the tubs provide a practical and effective grazing-season support product.”
Continued Success Across the Enterprise
Following the success of Garlic Grazer, the Cruickshanks have continued working with Scotmin products across the wider business.
In addition to ProActive and Garlic Grazer tubs, they have introduced Beef Biosprint for finishing cattle.
“We’ve noticed increased performance through improved dry matter intake, as well as fewer signs of acidosis in cattle being fed higher starch diets,” says Arron.
Tom believes many beef producers are now focusing more closely on nutritional efficiency.
“With beef prices currently at a good level, many farmers are looking to invest in better feeding strategies to improve performance,” he explains. “Beef Biosprint is a well-researched product, and the additional cost of feeding yeast through a mineral is minimal if you are achieving improvements in liveweight gain and feed efficiency.”
A Practical Solution for Grazing Farms
For farms dealing with biting flies and midge pressure, particularly those with wetter or wooded grazing ground, MEGALIX Garlic Grazer offers a practical, natural support tool for improving cattle comfort and maintaining grazing performance.
Most importantly for West Mains Farm, it has become a product they now rely on each grazing season.
“We wouldn’t be without it now,” says Carol.
For more information about MEGALIX Garlic Grazer and Scotmin’s full product portfolio, get in touch or contact your local Scotmin representative.