From the Philippines to Dairy Farms Worldwide: The Scientist Taking on Flies with Dr. Mike Catangui

How insects directly impact milk production, animal health and dairy profitability

Insects are often dismissed as a nuisance, but Dr. Mike Catangui said flies and parasites represent one of the most underestimated limiting factors in dairy production. In a conversation with Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen, Catangui outlined how insect pressure affects milk yield, animal health and disease transmission on dairies around the world.

Flies Can Reduce Milk Production by Up to 20%

Catangui said stable flies and house flies do more than irritate cattle. They directly impact performance.

“In dairy, we have two species of flies, stable flies and house flies,” Catangui said. “They carry disease and they also reduce the milk production by up to 20%.”

He explained that parasites act as a limiting factor, affecting both health and productivity across livestock systems.

One Insect, Same Impact Across Dairy and Beef

Catangui’s research focused on stable flies in feedlot cattle, but he said the same insect creates similar losses in dairy herds.

“It’s the same insect,” he said. “It impacts both dairy cattle and feedlots.”

His research showed stable flies can reduce average daily gain in beef cattle by up to 16%, while dairy studies show comparable losses in milk production.

Insect Pressure Is a Global Dairy Challenge

Catangui emphasized that insect pressure is not limited by geography.

He noted that stable flies affect dairies worldwide, from the United States to Europe and Asia, and that disease transmission risks remain consistent regardless of location.

Why Natural Fly Control Is Gaining Attention

Catangui pointed to increased interest in natural insecticides, particularly plant-based solutions, as resistance to synthetic products continues to grow.

“There’s no resistance to natural pyrethrins,” he said.

Catangui’s work reframes flies and parasites from background noise into measurable factors that directly shape dairy performance and animal health.

For more from this conversation with Dr. Mike Catangui, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full episode below.